BODOG POKER TEAM

Texas-based poker pro from Vietnam stuns field at Bally’s tourney with Bodog at his side

December 7th, 2005

By Angi Cividino
BodogNation Contributing Writer

The final table for the WSOP Circuit Championship at Bally’s Paris Las Vegas Casino on Nov. 22 was set. It featured two World Series Champions – reigning titleholder Joe Hachem and 1998 champion Scotty Nguyen. But no one could have predicted that Team Bodog player Thang “Kido” Pham would go on to win the event – and with it $453,456 in prize money and a gold-and-diamond championship ring.

That is, no one but Kido Pham.

“I’ve made it to the final table before, so to win this tournament I knew I would have to gamble and draw other people out,” Pham said. “I was determined to win.”

Originally from Vietnam, Pham moved to the United States with his family when he was eight and now lives in Dallas with his wife and two children. Once his plan of becoming a successful business owner fell into place, he pursued his poker career – much to the dismay of his family.

“Poker is something that I feel I have in me,” said Pham, who owns several dental offices in the Dallas area. “Although my family is against my gambling, I feel it’s something that God gave me – it’s a talent I feel I’m blessed with.”

Pham joined Team Bodog for this event at the prompting of his friend David Williams, a fellow Dallas-based and Bodog-sponsored pro. Pham, who has played poker for more than 12 years, came into the WSOP Circuit Championship at Bally’s with less than two years’ experience in major tournaments. That inexperience made him feel he had a thing or two to prove.

“Now people recognize that I’m one of the top players out there,” Pham said. “At least I hope they do.”

Pham had made it to the final table on four previous occasions, including the championship event at the Doyle Brunson North American Poker Championship held in October, 2004, at the Bellagio. For finishing second, Pham collected $496,000. He also advanced to the final table at the World Poker Tour Mirage Poker Showdown at the Bellagio in May, 2005, placing fourth and picking up a cool $182,964.

But the favorite to win the Bally’s event was 2005 WSOP Champion Hachem, who entered the final day with the chip lead and an impressive title to boot.

“I had my eyes on Hachem because it was my first time playing with him, but he didn’t play many hands,” Pham said. “I played almost 90 percent of the hands and he played only 10 percent. He didn’t intimidate me at all.”

Did anyone?

Pham took out Doug Lee, John Smith, Nguyen and Lee Watkinson. Hachem needed more than a pair of eights to stay in the game but was eliminated and awarded fifth place. That left Pham and Tran to play for the big win.

Coming Up Aces

“I’ve never had a losing year,” Pham said. “It’s true – I don’t read poker books, I play based on what I have – with the skills that I have.”

On the final hand of the tournament and holding a 2-to-1 chip lead over Tran, Pham was dealt A-8. Tran was holding K-8. The flop delivered A-K-6; Pham bet with a pair of aces and Tran was quick to call with a pair of kings. Agreeing to show their cards, Pham went all-in when the turn produced a queen. It took Tran a little longer to call this time – his face nearly falling when he saw Pham’s pocket ace. When a Jack fell on the river, the victory went to Pham. Tran received $251,920 for second place.

“I shift my gears sometimes and people don’t know where I’m at,” Pham said. “Hopefully, now more people know that I’m willing to take risks and they won’t want to gamble with me.”

When asked what Pham was going to do with the prize money that he picked up from this tournament, he said he was going to give some of it to charity, and the rest will be used to build up his bankroll – in the hopes of going head-to-head against some of the game’s best and most respected, players like Phil Ivey.

“Although I’ve never had a chance to play with him, the player that I respect the most would have to be Phil Ivey,” Pham said. “You have to give the man all the credit in the world. It’s not easy to be a poker player and he’s accomplished so much over the last six years. I feel I can do it, too. Hopefully, sooner rather than later.”

What’s next for Pham?

“My goal is to win the big one,” Pham said.  “I’d like to win the World Series of Poker.”