DOB: 1954
Education: none
Favourite Game: tournaments
Career Highlights:
Men was born in Vietnam in 1954, come 1967 he dropped out of school at 13 to become a bus driver to help support his family. In 1978 he escaped the communist regime sailing to Malaysia later receiving political asylum from the US. In 1984 he played poker for the first time in his life, he quickly picked up the name 'Money Machine' as he continued to lose hundreds of dollars every weekend. Soon he managed to master the game and won his first tournament in 1987. He opened a dry cleaning and furniture store business with his winnings but soon sold them after he realised they didn't make him enough money.
Men hit the big time in 2000 with over 120 finishes in the money at prolific tournaments between 00 and 04. So far he has over 75 tournament victories to his name.
He earned the name the master though his tutelage of other players. Many of the fellow Vietnamese he met through his early business ventures would later fall under his tutorship. Fellow pros David Pham and Minh Nguyen both learnt their skill from the master. The nickname originated from one of his students in 1991.
Men has had extensive success in the World Series of Poker winning 6 bracelets, three of them in seven card stud. 5 of them have come from different game types, giving testament to him a well balanced player adept at all poker game types. In addition to his 6 bracelets he has had 62 money finishes as of 2007 in the World Series of Poker. His highest Main Event placing was forth in 1996.
Despite his success at the World Series Nguyen has never won a World Poker Tour Title. However he has made 4 final tables and made 8 money finishes. Interestingly enough he was known as a bit of a hot head in the 90's, a reputation that still somewhat undeservedly follows him. Another reputation he has earned from his tutoring of fellow players is that of soft playing in tournaments. However Men insists his protégés do not go soft on him in tournaments, as soft play is after all a form of cheating. In the current world tournament arena where most players are aware of Men's situation this is practically impossible.
Men is also renowned for being rather charitable with his winnings often donating to charities back home in Vietnam. He has earned the card magazine player of the year award numerous times - 97, 01, 03 and also again in 05. Fellow players regard him as one of the best tournament players currently on the world circuit and his winnings have exceeded $8.6 million dollars in live tournaments.
