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David Pham
David Pham, famously known as “The Dragon,” is a Vietnamese-American professional poker player and a legendary figure from the poker boom era. A three-time WSOP bracelet winner and two-time Card Player Player of the Year, Pham is celebrated for his relentless aggression and his incredible journey of resilience from South Vietnam to global poker stardom.
Career Earnings & Biggest Results
According to The Hendon Mob, David Pham has accumulated total live earnings of $11,570,644. He ranks among the top players on the California All-Time Money List and has achieved a career-best live score of $800,185 for a runner-up finish at the 2007 WPT Legends of Poker.
Pham is a three-time WSOP bracelet winner, with victories in 2001 ($2,000 S.H.O.E.), 2006 ($2,000 NLH Shootout), and 2017 ($1,500 NLH). His consistency across decades is highlighted by his recent deep runs in 2025, including multiple cashes at the 56th World Series of Poker and the WPT World Championship. With a career spanning over 25 years at the highest levels, his estimated poker net worth exceeds $12 million.
Biography & Poker Background
Born in 1967 in South Vietnam, Pham’s life is a testament to survival; he fled to the United States at age 17 as one of only 46 survivors on a boat carrying 145 people. After arriving in the U.S., he worked in the laundry business of his cousin, the legendary Men “The Master” Nguyen. Under Nguyen’s mentorship, Pham mastered the game and began his professional journey in 1998. He quickly became a “grinder’s grinder,” known for playing every tournament available, from local $100 events to $10,000 championships, earning the Card Player Player of the Year title in both 2000 and 2007.
Play Style & Strategy
Pham earned his nickname “The Dragon” for a fierce, “relentlessly aggressive” play style that pioneered the high-pressure tactics now common in modern poker. In an era dominated by passive play, Pham utilized his technical mastery of both No-Limit Hold’em and Mixed Games to “steal” pots and force opponents into critical errors. While he has adapted his game to compete with today’s GTO-focused youth, his core strategy remains rooted in an elite “feel” for tournament dynamics and an ability to navigate massive fields through sheer volume and mental toughness.
Social Media & Online Presence
Want to follow the legendary “Dragon” on the circuit? You can find his profiles and statistics here:
Video Highlights:
Derick Elomina is SoMuchPoker's Lead Content Writer and Interview Specialist, reporting live from WSOP bracelet events and Asia Pacific poker festivals such as TMT, APT, RDPT and APL Jeju, alongside player features and interviews for the site's Stories section. He discovered poker at 14 playing home games with friends, and by 21 he had entered the industry as a field reporter, starting as a hand reporter before building his current role on the tournament floor.
