Thuan "Scotty" Nguyen is a Vietnamese American professional poker player who is a five time WSOP bracelet winner, most notably as the winner of the 1998 WSOP Main Event. Scotty is one of the most recognizable poker players on TV, with his gold chains and his habit of calling everyone "baby".
Born in 1962 in Vietnam, Scotty came to America at the age of fourteen, eventually settling in the Los Angeles. He attended dealer school at the age of 21 and was employed by Harrah’s poker room. He made about $150 per night and lost most of it playing low-limit poker games, where he knew he wasn't that good but felt like gambling anyway.
Scotty first cashed at the WSOP in 1995. He won his first bracelet at the 1997 WSOP in the $2,000 Omaha 8 or Better, winning $150,000.
Unfortunately Scotty blew this bankroll (not for the first time either) and was completely broke right before the 1998 WSOP. He had to borrow money from Mike Matusow in exchange for a 1/3rd stake in his winnings in order to play in a small satellite to the main event. Nguyen made it to the heads-up final against Kevin McBride. On the final hand, there was a full house on the board (8-9-9-8-8). Scotty made a big bet and then said to Kevin McBride: "You call, it's gonna be all over baby!" McBride called, saying "I call. I play the board." Nguyen beat McBride with a better full house by holding 9-J. Along with his 2nd bracelet, he won the $1,000,000 prize, which he had to split ($333,333) with Mike Matusow. His main event triumph in 1998 was immediately followed by tragedy when, the very next day, one of his brothers was hit by a car back home in Vietnam, and killed. Because of this, Scotty does not wear his 1998 WSOP championship bracelet.
Scotty almost made the final table of the 2007 WSOP Main Event, finishing in 11th place out of a field of 6,358, earning $476,926.
After making several final tables at the WPT, Scotty won a WPT event in January 2006 during season 4, defeating Michael Mizrachi in the Gold Strike World Poker Open, winning $969,421. With this WPT victory, he became one of only 5 people to win both the WSOP main event and a WPT title.
In 2008, he won the WSOP $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event and the $1,989,120 first place prize. He became the only player in history to win this event and the WSOP Main Event. During this event, Scotty exhibited what some call rude and maybe even rule-breaking behavior. In the broadcast of the event, Scotty was shown drinking a lot of alcoholic and swearing at the final table. After the event, Scotty stated that the editors depicted him unfairly and that he was exhausted and frustrated with another player. Later on, he issued an apology and said that there was no excuse for his behavior.
Scotty is one of the most aggressive and confident poker players playing today and always plays to win, which is why he is such a great tournament player and why he has also gone broke before. Scotty is somewhat of a controversial figure. Some people think that he is someone who just plays with a lot of emotion and that his jokes are entertaining. Others say that he is disrespectful to other players at the table an also site the rumors of his drug use.
In 2009, Nguyen won the inaugural LA Poker Classic $10,000 H.O.R.S.E World Championship at the Commerce Casino's annual LA Poker Classic Series, winning $339,743.
Nguyen has also made appearances on the Ultimate Blackjack Tour playing Elimination Blackjack and made an appearance on Late Night with Conan O'Brien in April 2004.
As of 2009, he has one of the best tournament records in poker, he has 5 WSOP bracelets, 37 WSOP cashes, 1 WPT title, a record-tying 8 WPT final tables, and total live tournament winnings exceeding $10,700,000.
Year | Event | Prize |
---|---|---|
1997 | $2,000 Omaha 8 or Better | $156,959 |
1998 | $10,000 No Limit Hold'em World Championship | $1,000,000 |
2001 | $2,500 Pot Limit Omaha | $178,480 |
2001 | $5,000 Omaha Hi-Lo Split Eight or Better | $287,580 |
2008 | $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. World Championship | $1,989,120 |
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I must admit he is a true champion...when he is
sober