| Mến Nguyễn | |
|---|---|
 Nguyen in 2018 | |
| Nickname | The Master |
| Born | 1954 (age 70–71) Phan Thiet, Vietnam |
| World Series of Poker | |
| Bracelets | 7[1] |
| Money finishes | 89 |
| Highest WSOP Main Event finish | 4th,1996 |
| World Poker Tour | |
| Title | None |
| Final table | 5 |
| Money finishes | 17 |
| Information last updated on15 May 2015. | |
Men "The Master" Nguyen (Nguyễn Văn Mến;[2] born 1954 inPhan Thiet,Vietnam) is aVietnamese-American professionalpoker player.
In 1967, he dropped out of school at age 13 and became a bus driver to help support his family. In early 1978, a staunchanti-Communist, he escaped from theCommunist regime of Vietnamby boat and sailed with 87 compatriots to Pulau Besar inMalaysia. In 1978, he receivedpolitical asylum from the United States and settled inLos Angeles,California. In 1986, he became an American citizen. In 1984 he went on ajunket toLas Vegas and played poker for the first time in his life. He continued to go every weekend and lose hundreds of dollars, earning him the nickname "Money Machine".[3] However, he quickly mastered the game, winning his first tournament in 1987. With his poker earnings, he opened a dry cleaning business and furniture store, but sold them in 1990 because they took too much of his time and didn't make enough money. Through these businesses he would, however, meet and work with many Vietnamese people who would fall under his tutelage.
Nguyen met his future wife, Van, in Vietnam. He eventually brought her to the United States, where they settled inBell Gardens, California. Men and Van have three children. Van Nguyen learned poker from her husband. She won theWorld Poker Tour Celebrity Invitational in March 2008, becoming the first woman to ever win a WPT mixed event.[4]
Nguyen has over 475 finishesin the money,[5] and has won more than 95 tournaments.[6] Nguyen is known for tutoring players, many of whom go on to be successful in their own right, including his cousinsDavid Pham,Minh Nguyen, and his wife Van Nguyen. Men receives a portion of some of his students' winnings.[7] In 1991 one of his students gave him the nickname "The Master," and now he is widely known as "Men the Master." He donates a portion of the money he earns through tournaments and tutoring to charities in Vietnam, and in 1996, with the earnings from his final-table finish in theWorld Series of Poker, built a kindergarten in Vietnam.
Nguyen won theCard Player Magazine Player of the Year award in 1997, 2001, 2003 and 2005 and is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished tournament players in the world. While allegations have been made regarding Nguyen's possible involvement with tournament cheating,[7] nothing has been proven and Nguyen has consistently denied any such actions.[8] As of 2022, his total live tournament earnings exceed $11,000,000.[6] His cashes at WSOP events account for over $4,100,000 of those winnings.[1]
Nguyen has won seven WSOP bracelets over three decades.[9][10][11][12][13][14][15]
| Year | Tournament | Prize (US$) |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | $1,500Seven-card stud | $120,600 |
| 1995 | $2,500 Seven-card stud hi-lo | $96,000 |
| 1995 | $2,500 LimitTexas hold 'em | $110,000 |
| 1996 | $2,500Omaha hi-lo | $110,000 |
| 2003 | $5,000 Seven-card stud | $178,560 |
| 2003 | $1,500 Ace to Five Triple Draw Lowball | $43,520 |
| 2010 | $10,000 Seven-card stud | $394,807 |