J.C. Tran, of Sacramento, California, is one of the most competent tournament players around. Born in Vietnam in 1977, he is the youngest of eight. He received a degree in business management information from California State University, but chose poker as his profession.

Tran had a break-out year in 2006, making more than $1.1 million with 10 final-table appearances in major tournaments, and finishing third in the Card Player Player of the Year race. He also won the World Championship of Online Poker main event on PokerStars in 2006. He has made the money in World Series of Poker events 17 times, with four final-tables finishes. His 2007 is going even better. He has made three World Poker Tour main event final tables, finishing sixth, second, and then first at the World Poker Challenge in Reno. He finished off the year by winning a $5,000 buy-in preliminary no-limit hold'em event during the Five-Diamond World Poker Classic. That win was good for more than $523,000. After another spectacular year, Tran came in second in the 2007 Card Player Player of the Year race. As those two years have shown, Tran has the talent and consistency it takes to win this prestigious award. Look out for Tran to continue his success in the years to come.