Vinny Landrum, a promising professional poker player, was born in Vietnam. After he moved to the United States from Vietnam, this hard-working immigrant moved all the way up from a dishwasher to a manager at a fast food restaurant. Later he entered the poker world, earned thirty-nine cashes and three first-place finishes. Currently residing in Canoga Park, California, he has total tournament winnings of $683,094.
Although Vinny Landrum has been playing poker since 1997, his first major success in the poker arena came only in May 2001, when he outlasted a field of 138 players to finish first in Event 4 Limit Hold’em at America’s Poker Classic Tournament that had a prize pool of $41,400. In this event, which was held at the Bicycle Casino, he took home a good sum of $16,560. In February 2002, Vinny Landrum made it to the final table in Event 3 Limit Omaha Hi/Lo at the LA Poker Classic Tournament held at the Commerce Casino and finished as the runner-up to earn $15,333 in prize money. Between February 2002 and March 2003, he had a few good runs, including several final-table finishes.
On March 20, 2003 Vinny Landrum achieved yet another milestone in his career, when he defeated 139 players to secure first place and win $5,432 in the Limit Hold’em event at the World Poker Challenge – World Poker Tour (WPT) Season 1. This event took place at the Grand Sierra Resort & Casino and had a prize pool of $13,580. In July that year, Vinny Landrum secured a respectable third-place finish in Event 1 Limit Hold’em at the Grand Slam of Poker Tournament and bagged $10,410.
He came second in Event 5 Limit Hold’em at the California State Poker Championship held at the Commerce Casino on June 1, 2004 and made $24,225. In December, Vinny Landrum had an impressive third-place finish in the No-Limit Hold’em Main Event at the Five-Diamond World Poker Classic II/WPT Event Season 3 and walked away with a whopping $462,851 in prize money.
2005 turned out to be a great one for Vinny Landrum, as he had one first-place, two second-place finishes as well as a few final-table finishes. On March 28, he secured second place in the No-Limit Hold’em event at the Winnin' O' the Green Tournament that attracted 155 participants and got $12,455 for his performance. On May 14, 2005, Vinny Landrum outlasted several well-know players to secure first place in the No-Limit Hold’em event at the Heavenly Hold’em Tournament and collect a handsome amount of $50,261. Two months later, in July, he made it to the final table and finished second in Event 11 No-Limit Hold’em at the Larry Flynt's Grand Slam of Poker Tournament, bagging $12,350. The same month, Vinny Landrum secured a sixth-place finish in Event 4 No-Limit Hold’em at the Legends of Poker –WPT Season 4 and won $3,870.
Vinny Landrum regards Omaha as his favorite poker game and aims to win the Big One (WSOP – Main Event) someday. Besides playing poker, his hobbies include bowling and watching movies, especially Mission Impossible. Hollywood star Julia Roberts is his favorite celebrity, and among poker players, he respects Johnny Chan the most. Vinny Landrum also enjoys listening to John Denver.