A Cinderella Story at the WSOP

A virtually unknown poker player before, Jerry Yang former Laos refugee trying to make it in America has shocked rivals and taken home $8,250,000, coming in first place in the latest WSOP main event the $10,000 world championship No Limit Hold 'Em.

Jerry Yang, 39, nicknamed himself the "True Rookie" before having won the 2007 WSOP main event. Growing up in Laos and eventually becoming a father of six children, Yang had minimal opportunities to play poker, yet alone spend money on life's bare necessities. As he explained "I lived in the mountains, very, very poor. I didn't own a ball or marbles. Whenever my parents killed a pig, we would use the bladders and blow it up and use it as a ball to play. That's how poor I was".

Yang and his family tried several times to escape communist rule there of the 70's, and were even once caught. They spent 4 years in a refugee camp in Thailand fighting for their lives. Probably Yang's biggest ever gamble was risking their lives and escaping the camp to come to America.

It was extremely difficult to rebuild his life, yet he says proudly that "coming into this country was a great opportunity I love this country". Since his arrival with his wife and 6 children, Yang has completed a university degree in psychology and "played whenever I have a little chance here or there" at the poker table.

Yang entered the event as the underdog with the 2nd shortest stack at the final table. Yet right from the first hand, it was clear that he was there to put up a good fight and mark his place in the poker crowd. In fact, the game was incredibly fast played, lasting only 16 hours.

Yang took advantage of his psychology skills and studied the players at his table to a well enough degree to get him into the final table line up, which was as follows:

Seat No. 1: Jon Kalmar
Seat No. 2: Lee Childs
Seat No. 3: Phillip Hilm
Seat No. 4: Jerry Yang
Seat No. 5: Raymond Rahme
Seat No. 6: Tuan Lam
Seat No. 7: Alex Kravchenko
Seat No. 8: Lee Watkinson
Seat No. 9: Hevad "Rain" Khan

Yang won 30 out of the 80 hands played, and quickly built up a decent stack of chips to take a lead early on in the game. He eventually earned the new nickname of "Jerry the eliminator Yang". The first to be booted was Alex The Barnacle Kravchenko, who called in Ace King to Yang' 2 eights. The flow turned disastrous when Yang drew 2 more eights, and Kravchenko was drawing dead. Not to worry he pocketed $1.8 million in only 7 hours of game play, and has earned much respect for a great WSOP run.

Only an hour later and Yang went into head to head battle with the South African Raymond Rahme. Yang raised Rahme to preflop $2.5 million, and Rahme re-raised to a hefty $6 million. Rahme eventually pushed his entire stack into the center of the table, only to have Yang 2 cards later rake it all in for himself. He left the event with $3 million in winnings.

It was now down to the final 2 competitors Canada Vs USA as Yang and Tuan Lam took their places in the hot seats. Lam folded nearly everything of the first 20 hands, and pushed all in $10 million. When winning almost double he began pressuring Yang increasingly until the 36th hand, when Yang raised to $1.5 million and Lam re-raised all in immediately.

Tension in the room was at a peak; the crowd was torn between "USA! USA!" and Canadian supporters cheering for Lam, who appeared to be on his way to yet another double up. For the title of championship, the dealer flipped a 6 and Yang had earned himself a high 9 straight to take home the title, bracelet, and over $8 million. "I watched miracles happen in this tournament," Yang explained.

Yang was flocked to by family and supporters cheering "USA!" and "Jerry!" and had to restrain his wife's elaborate sobs for joy. His genuine loud prayers and thanks to god had won over the hearts of a considerable section of the spectators. Yang joined in the crowd's cheering and laughter, and when Chad asked him whether or not he would be returning to work, he grinned and stated "I plan to at least give my 2 weeks notice".

Yang managed to turn a $225 satellite entry into $8,250,000 in cash, which has earned him a place in the books of WSOP history. He has promised to donate 10 percent of his $8 million plus in winnings to charity before even beginning game play, and spend the rest on his deserving family.

Regarded as one of the most humble winners of a poker event ever, Yang has not only won over the hearts of many, but inspired them to follow their dreams with his rags to riches story.

Well done, Jerry!