An Tran, nicknamed “The Boss”, is a Vietnamese-American veteran poker player. Born on July 29, 1952, Tran is a single father of two. He was once a lieutenant in the South Vietnamese Green Berets where he played Five-Card Stud as a pastime. It was only after he escaped from Vietnam in 1975 and came to America that he learned other games. An Tran is a karate expert and had started a martial arts studio in Houston, Texas to teach karate when he first arrived in America in 1975. After he started playing tournament poker in 1980, An Tran decided to move to Las Vegas, seeking to play quality poker on a daily basis.
In 1987, An Tran landed his first final table at the World Series of Poker and has since made 33 final tables. Tran is known for his unpredictable playing style, something his peers are wary of. Tran says that while some players are aggressive and some are restrained, he changes his style based on his opponents and on his chips. It is also an approach that has won him many fans through television coverage of poker tournaments.
An Tran won his first World Series of Poker bracelet in the $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha event in 1991, beating Chris Bjorin in the final heads-up meeting. He made the final table yet again at the World Series of Poker main event in 1997, but finished 5th.
In 2004, Tran narrowly missed his second World Series of Poker bracelet when he lost to John “World” Hennigan in the $5,000 Limit Hold'em event. Tran believes he’s under a curse ever since he sold his World Series of Poker bracelet due to which he is unable to win another bracelet.
In 2006, An Tran made the final table at the Gold Strike World Poker Open, part of the World Poker Tour, finishing 5th, and won $125,856. Tran’s other recent accomplishments include 25th place in WPT World Championship held in April 2007, 9th place in The Orleans Open held in July 2007, and 56th place in the 39th World Series of Poker held in June 2008.
An Tran’s biggest tournament cashes:
- Jun 30, 2008: $8,454 in the $1500 No Limit Hold'em event at the 39th World Series of Poker 2008 Event #52, Las Vegas (56th place)
- April 13, 2007: $5,555 in the $ 25000 No Limit Hold'em event at the WPT World Championship / WPT Event Season 5, Las Vegas (25th place)
- January 13, 2006: $81,972 in the $1,000 No Limit Hold'em event at the 2006 Gold Strike World Poker Open, Tunica (2nd place)
- January 19, 2006: $125,856 in the $ 10,000 Championship Event - No Limit Hold'em event at the Gold Strike World Poker Open, Tunica (5th place)
- January 7, 2005: $93,000 in the $500 No Limit Hold'em event at the Sixth Annual Jack Binion World Poker Open, Tunica (2nd place)
- June 3, 2005: $104,970 in the $1,500 No Limit Hold'em event at the 36th World Series of Poker, Las Vegas (7th place)
- May 17, 2004: $170,200 in the $5,000 Limit Hold'em event at the 35th World Series of Poker, Las Vegas (2nd place)
- October 1, 2003: $48,890 in the $1,000 No Limit Hold'em event at the 2003 Four Queens Poker Classic, Las Vegas (1st place)
- January 13, 1998: $57,200 in the $1,000 Pot Limit Hold'em event at the Carnivale of Poker, Las Vegas (1st place)
- August 23, 1996: $38,800 in the $1,000 No Limit Hold'em event at the 1996 Legends of Poker, Los Angeles (1st place)
- May 3, 1994: $50,100 in the $2,500 Pot Limit Omaha event at the 25th World Series of Poker, Las Vegas (3rd place)
- November 12, 1992: $62,800 in the $1,000 Limit Hold'em event at the Hall of Fame Poker Classic, Las Vegas (1st place)
- May, 1991: $87,600 in the $ 1,500 Omaha Pot Limit event at 22nd World Series of Poker (1st place)
An Tran quick facts:
- Total winnings: $1,840,814
- Cashes: 118
- First place finishes: 11
- World Series of Poker bracelets: 1
- World Series of Poker times cashed: 17th
- All-time money list: 115th