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1987 WSOP
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Johnny Chan - The Orient Express
Johnny Chan went on to become the most decorated and successful player in World Series of Poker history. He holds ten WSOP bracelets, more than anyone except for Doyle Brunson and Phil Hellmuth, who also have ten. In three consecutive years, he won the main event twice and was the runner up the third time. In 1987 though, Johnny Chan was just another young upstart, looking to make a run at the title.
Although he probably didn't know it, Chan was facing one of the most formidable final table lineups ever. In addition to talented professional gambler Mickey Appelman and 1984 WSOP champ Jack Keller, Chan would be up against Bob Ciaffone, a Bridge and chess master with tremendous poker skills, and two up and coming stars, Howard "The Professor of Poker" Lederer and Dan Harrington, a future WSOP champion himself.
ESPN Coverage
ESPN only covered what has become known as "the television table," the final six players. Of these, Harrington was the first to go, but he would be back. Lederer was the next to fall, followed by Jim Spain. Although Ciaffone held the chip lead for awhile, he too would eventually be run over by the Orient Express. Holding 7 5 on a flop of 6 7 J, Ciaffone tried to make a move on Chan, but Chan, who had woken up with A J, would not be bullied, and knocked Ciaffone out in third place.
Frank Henderson seemed unlikely to make the final two not long before, as he was 24th out of 24 when there were only three tables left. However, some judicious double ups got him healthy, and he was able to meet Chan as only a 4 to 1 chip underdog. Two fortuitous hands for Henderson and he would be chip leader.
Lucky River for Chan
It was not to be. Chan raised before the flop with the As 9c, a fairly strong holding heads up. Henderson looked down at pocket fours and moved all in. Although Chan could have been in big trouble to a high pocket pair, he was confident that he had at least two over cards and called. He stood up to watch helplessly as the flop and turn missed his hand completely, then delighted as a 9 peeled off on the river, making Johnny "The Orient Express" Chan World Series of Poker Champion for the first time, but not the last.
1987 WSOP Tournaments and Winners
| Event | Winner | Prize | Entrants |
| $,10,000 Championship Event | Johnny Chan | $625,000 | 152 |
| $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em | Hilbert Shirey | $171,600 | N/A |
| $1,500 Limit Hold'em | Ralph Morton | $189,000 | N/A |
| $1,000 A-5 Draw | Bob Addison | $96,400 | N/A |
| $5,000 2-7 Draw | Bill Baxter | $153,000 | 68 |
| $1,000 Limit Omaha | T.J. Cloutier | $72,000 | N/A |
| $5,000 Seven-Card Stud | Artie Cobb | $142,000 | 71 |
| $1,000 Seven-Card Stud | Jim Craig | $103,600 | N/A |
| $2,500 Pot-Limit Omaha | Hal Kant | $174,000 | N/A |
| $1,000 Seven-Card Stud Split | Joe Petro | $93,200 | 71 |
| $1,000 Razz | Carl Rouss | $163,000 | 163 |
| $500 Women's 7-Card Stud | Linda Ryke-Drucker | $16,800 | N/A |
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