2007 World Series of Poker Champion Profiled by Las Vegas SunJeff Haney of the Las Vegas Sun delve deep into the world of a man who nobody in the poker world probably even heard of until this week. That's when Dr. Jerry Yang, who emigrated to the US during the 1970's from Laos as a child, became the newest World Series of Poker champion.
Yang walked off with $8.25 mil. Quite a conquest considering he only began playing poker just two years ago.
A greater man could not have won the 2007 World Series of Poker championship and Jerry Yang will do great things to help promote this wonderful game that certain politicians have worked feverishly to ban.
The 39-year-old psychologist, social worker and deeply spiritual man from Temecula, Calif., has pledged to donate to charity 10 percent of the $8.25 million he won at the World Series of Poker and plans to devote even more to missionary efforts.
"I kept saying, 'Lord, give me a set,' " Yang said, using the common poker term for three-of-a-kind. "And there was a 4 on the flop."
Another time, Yang needed an ace or a 4 on the final card to fill a straight and extend his tournament life.
"I said, "Lord, if you want me to win this, put the ace or the 4 on the river,' " Yang said. A 4 came, and Yang lived to fight on.
"I've seen miracles," he tells Haney.
Of course, who would have known the Lord loved poker too...enough to help Dr. Yang win the grand prize. The Christian Coalition may want to rethink its stance regarding online poker.
Check out Jeff Haney's full article on 2007 World Series of Poker winner Jerry Yang here
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Originally published July 19, 2007 12:29 pm ET
