Millions of people have seen Johnny Chan do his thing – although few would be able to pick him out of a lineup.

Chan was shown in the 1998 film Rounders as the inspiration behind Matt Damon’s character. A better choice couldn’t have been made.

Chan is one of the greatest poker players who ever lived, racking up his 10th World Series of Poker bracelet in 2005 and winning the main event in 1987 and 1988.

Born in China around 1957, Chan and his family headed stateside in 1968, eventually settling in Houston in 1973. Chan didn’t speak a word of English when he first came to America.

Being a fish out of water would work to his advantage by the time he dropped out of the University of Houston and moved to Las Vegas at age 21. As one of the only Asian players in town back then, people tended to underestimate Chan.

Now the “Orient Express” is one of the most respected players in the game. Other players are even copying Chan’s habit of bringing an orange to the table – not to eat, but for the scent to cut through the cigarette smoke in the room.

Chan was given a spot in the Poker Hall of Fame in 2002, the year he became the all-time leader in earnings at the World Series of Poker. He is the first Asian to join the Hall of Fame.

The father of six also runs a fast-food restaurant at the Stratosphere Hotel in Las Vegas, and dreams of opening his own casino some day.