It’s quite remarkable that a casual poker player, who openly shared that he is often labeled as 'fish' and 'lucky' by his peers at the local poker room, emerged victorious in the inaugural WSOP Crazy Eights event. This unique tournament was established to celebrate the collaboration between the WSOP and 888poker, featuring a buy-in of $888, a guaranteed top prize of $888,888, and played with eight players at the table.
In addition, the No-Limit Hold'em format permitted one rebuy per flight, adding to the overall unpredictability and offering less seasoned players a better chance at success. To make things even more interesting, the top eight payout amounts all concluded with the number 888 – for instance, the winner received $888,888, while the runner-up took home $401,888.
Amidst the chaos and novelty of the event, it was Hung Le’s story that captured everyone’s attention. Originally from Vietnam and now residing in Dayton, Ohio, Le is a nail salon owner. He moved from his homeland after experiencing a civil war and worked tirelessly to accumulate the funds necessary to start his own business. A father of five, he has two of his children and his wife working alongside him in the salon.
"Anyone Can Do This\"
Surprisingly, this was Le's first experience competing in a significant tournament, including the prestigious World Series of Poker. For the past decade, he mostly participated in $1/$2 No Limit Hold’em cash games as a hobby. However, encouraged by friends, he decided to enter the Crazy Eights tournament. His only form of preparation consisted of playing a few Sit & Go tournaments where his results were modest – he won one, shared another, and missed the mark in two others.
The fact that this victory marks his first and only cash prize in his 'poker journey' is astounding. Overlay his unconventional style of play, which could easily have led to disaster, and you might think he was set up for failure. Nevertheless, Hung Le had a strategy that, while not typical for professional players, proved effective for him.
If there’s one principle that Le adheres to in poker, it would be the significance of playing aggressively:
"The only way I can possibly outplay him is by being aggressive, since he’s just too skilled for me,\" stated Le to the media following his victory. \"He plays the flop exceptionally well. If I try to match him on the flop, I’m at a disadvantage.\"
Le responded with equal aggression. However, his hyper-aggressive tactics nearly backfired when he found himself all-in with Q3, trailing behind. Fortunately, luck favored him, allowing him to double up against his opponent in the final match, Michael Lech, keeping his hopes alive.
"This is the poker dream\"
In an era where poker is often viewed as a sophisticated mental sport, it’s surprisingly refreshing to see a total newcomer to tournament play triumph in an event with over 6,700 entries. While it should be noted that Hung did have one rebuy during the tournament, his success serves as an encouraging sign for everyday recreational players.
Le embraced the unknown by traveling to Las Vegas and participating in the Crazy Eights event:
"What happened for me today showcases the beauty of poker. Anyone can win against anyone. Just like me, everyone has a shot at success.\"
His story truly is a remarkable one.
What to Do with $888,888?
With five children still at home, Le mentioned that he had never previously had more than $10,000 at his disposal. Some of his winnings will likely be spent on small luxuries, but we can speculate that the majority will go towards creating a more secure and comfortable life for his family.
Commenting on Hung Le’s achievement and the Crazy Eights tournament, Itai Pazner, who leads B2C at 888holdings, expressed:
As the proud sponsor of the WSOP event for the second consecutive year, we are thrilled to witness the successful turnout of the Crazy Eights event, which drew a high number of recreational participants. Our brand is built around these kinds of players who love and enjoy the game, whether they play occasionally or every day. They are engaging with the game and dreaming of striking it rich in poker.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Hung on his monumental win in the very first Crazy Eights tournament and are eager to explore future collaborations with the WSOP. This partnership has flourished each year.
We wish Hung the best of luck in his next major tournament – the WSOP Main Event!