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John JuandaProfessional poker player from Indonesia
Date of Birth: 08.07.1971
Country:  Indonesia |
Content:
Biography of John Juanda
John Juanda, also known as 'JJ', is a professional poker player hailing from Indonesia. He is one of the most accomplished players in the world, with 5 World Series of Poker bracelets to his name. Juanda's playing style evokes admiration, envy, and yet remains entirely enigmatic - he remains one of the most mysterious and misunderstood poker professionals.
Early Life and Education
John Juanda, born Johnson 'John' Juanda, was born in 1971 in Medan, Indonesia, to a family of Chinese heritage. In 1990, Juanda was sent to the United States to pursue his education. He attended Oklahoma State University where he actively participated in sports, particularly excelling in sprinting (200 meters) and long-distance running (5000 meters). He later obtained his Master's degree from Seattle University.
Early Career
At some point, Juanda worked as a door-to-door salesman, offering products to people. Interestingly, one of the products he sold was Bibles. It is known that during his university days, Juanda spent a lot of time playing poker with his fellow students. Even then, he was already contemplating a career in professional poker. Eventually, Juanda moved to Los Angeles where he began participating in tournaments. According to some reports, by that time, he already owed a significant amount of money to Indonesian casinos, which he settled once in the United States. These sources also suggest that Juanda's father had a penchant for gambling, and his mother strongly disapproved of him following in his father's footsteps. Nevertheless, Juanda became a professional in the world of gambling.
Success in Poker
Juanda's most impressive successes undoubtedly come from his triumphant victories in the World Series of Poker tournaments. He won bracelets in 2002, 2003 (in two different poker variations), 2008, and 2011. In 2004, Juanda also emerged as the winner of the Professional Poker Tour. It is worth noting that Juanda began participating in tournaments in the late 1990s and had to wait several long years before achieving his triumph. However, the patient Asian player continued to learn and improve his skills throughout those years. Today, John Juanda is one of the most accomplished and formidable poker players. He plays as part of 'Team Full Tilt' and can be found online under the usernames 'JJ' and 'Luckbox'. By 2011, Juanda's total winnings from live tournaments amounted to $11,700,000.
