Jerry Yang exploded out of the blocks at the final table knocking out three players in succession.
From hand 14 onwards he held a fluctuating chip lead and would eventually knock out 7 of the final tablists (tying Jamie Gold’s record from last year).
This was an epic final table lasting 16 hours and Yang can be proud of the way he weilded the big stack once it was in his possession.
A more humble and gracious poker player you will not find on the face of this planet and one hopes that the fame that is to be thrust upon him does not change that.
Deeply religous, Jerry’s first thanks were to God. In his presentation interivew he described how his family escaped from a refugee camp in Thailand to find a new life in America. He spoke of knowing what it is like to be poor and pledged 10% of his winnings to various charities.
A genuinely refreshing change from the egomaniacal posturing of the Phil Helmuths of this world, I am delighted for Jerry and am sure he will be a hugely popular ambassador for the game.
His relentlessly aggressive style at this final table was the perfect strategy and a little bit of bit of divine inspiration along the way didn’t hurt. “All I know is the lord was watching over me!”
Living the dream, Jerry said he would give his boss two weeks notice and told his wife, who works a night shift, that she will never have to work again. Jerry is the father of 6 - a lucky number it would seem, as that was the card that won him the 2007 WSOP World Championship!