J.C. Tran, of Sacramento, California, is one of the most prolific 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. In 2007 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. Then, in 2008, Tran won his first WSOP bracelet in a $1,500 no-limit hold'em tournament. Since there were 2,718 entrants, Tran took home more than $631,000 for first.

2008 Earnings: US$1,474,893 Lifetime Earnings: US$7,911,995 (incl 2006 PokerStars WCoop $670,194)