Bon John Phan

Bon John Phan was born on October 10, 1974, in Da Nang, Vietnam. He later moved to the United States and settled in Stockton, California, before eventually residing in Los Angeles. Phan began his poker career in the early 2000s, honing his skills in Los Angeles card rooms and quickly establishing himself as a formidable tournament player.

Phan has 29 WSOP money finishes and two bracelets, both won in 2008. His first breakthrough came in 2005 when he finished fourth in the $5,000 Seven-Card Stud event, outlasting professionals like Dave Colclough and Rob Hollink. In 2006, he was runner-up in the $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em event, earning $289,389 after his Q♠ 5♠ failed to improve against Jon Friedberg's A♥ 7♥. The following year, he again finished second in the $2,500 No-Limit Hold'em event to Francois Safieddine, taking home $330,846.

At the 2008 WSOP, Phan captured his first bracelet in the $3,000 No-Limit Hold'em event for $434,789. Just days later, he won his second bracelet in the $2,500 2-7 Triple Draw event, adding $151,896. His total cashes at the 2008 WSOP amounted to $608,464. His best WSOP Main Event finish came in 2012, placing 149th.

World Series of Poker Bracelets

Phan has 11 WPT money finishes and four final tables. In Season 3 of the WPT Championship, he finished fourth in the $25,000 event, earning $518,920, besting a field that included Phil Ivey, Chris Ferguson, and Rob Hollink. He also made the final table of the 2008 Bay 101 Shooting Stars (6th, $135,000) and the Bellagio Cup IV (5th, $193,915).

His crowning WPT moment came in Season 7 at the Legends of Poker held at The Bicycle Casino in Bell Gardens, California. Phan defeated online star Amit "Amak316" Makhija in heads-up play to win the WPT title and $1,091,428 – his largest live cash to date.

Phan has numerous other notable wins. At the 2004 Jack Binion World Poker Open, he won the $500 Limit Hold'em event ($160,965) and the $500 Pot-Limit Hold'em event ($85,257), adding three more cashes at the same series. Later in 2004, he won the $3,000 No-Limit Hold'em event at Festa al Lago II for $189,900. In 2005, he triumphed in the $2,425 No-Limit Hold'em event at the L.A. Poker Classic, earning $300,578. He was also runner-up to Marcel Lüske in the $3,000 No-Limit Hold'em event at the 2006 Five-Star World Poker Classic, collecting $179,195.

Phan's stellar 2008 season earned him both the Cardplayer Magazine Player of the Year award (with 6,704 points) and the Bluff Magazine Player of the Year award. His total live tournament winnings have surpassed $6 million, with over $1.45 million coming from WSOP events alone.

Even in recent years, Phan continues to cash in major events. In 2023, he finished 190th in the WPT Prime Championship at Wynn Las Vegas for $4,300. In 2025, he cashed in the WSOP $300 Gladiators of Poker (963rd, $1,356) and the $1,000 Seniors Championship (84th, $7,361). He also recorded a cash in the 2021 PokerGO Tour event at Seminole Hard Rock.

Known by the nickname "The Razor," Phan is recognized for his aggressive, pressure-oriented style. He excels at using position to apply constant pressure and possesses strong post-flop reading abilities. In deep-stacked situations, he exhibits patience, waiting for favorable spots. His approach is often described as a tight-aggressive foundation with hyper-aggressive bursts. Phan's rags-to-riches story – from low-stakes tournaments in the US to millions in earnings – serves as an inspiration to aspiring players, emphasizing the importance of discipline, adaptability, and continuous learning.