On the eve of the World Series of Poker 2008, it is but normal to take recap on the WSOP 2007 champion, Xao “Jerry” Yang, the player who beat over 6,000 others in the main event.

Like the famous Chris Moneymaker, Jerry Yang entered the WSOP 2007 Main Event through winning a satellite tournament.

However unlike Moneymaker, Yang’s victory was not in an online satellite tournament. He played a $225 buy in at his local poker room, Pechanga Resort and Casino, and won his seat for the WSOP event. That he reached the final table was creditable in itself, but no one expected him to win. In fact he was placed a lowly eighth when the final table began. But through aggressive play Yang accumulated an early chip lead that he held on to. In the heads-up he found himself against Tuan Lam, a player with a very similar background. After 12 grueling hours Jerry Yang won and finished with UD$8,250,000 and the golden bracelet.

After the tournament Yang attributed his victory to aggression and luck. He said, “I study my opponents very carefully, and when I sensed something, when I sensed some weakness, I took a chance. Even if I had nothing, I decided to raise, reraise, push all-in or make a call....The only way that I could win this tournament was by being aggressive from the very beginning and that’s exactly what I did. And thank God I was also able to pick up some good cards at the same time.&rdquo

Jerry Yang was born in Laos in 1968. When he was two years old, his family fled to Thailand to escape from the communist regime. There they lived in a refugee camp. Yang’s brother and sister died while living in the camp. In 1979 the family managed to move to the United States and Jerry Yang was all set to fulfill the American Dream. He acquired a master’s degree in health psychology from Loma Linda University and worked as a therapist and social worker. He is married, has six children and lives in Temecula in California.

Jerry Yang started played poker only in 2005 and this makes his WSOP 2007 achievement all that greater. Before the big win he had four cashes in local tournaments. Like all poker players Yang has a big heart. He pledged to donate 10% of his winnings to three charities that he has been associated with through his social work, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Feed the Children, and the Ronald McDonald House. He also donated to his alma mater, Loma Linda University. After the WSOP 2007 Main Event, Jerry Yang stood eleventh in all time winnings in live tournaments. Despite this win his POY ranking in 2007 was 349.

Unfortunately Jerry Yang has not fared all that well after his spectacular win in 2007. He has cashed only once after that, in the 2007 Binions Open, where he won a meager $1,324. In 2008 he is not even on the POY list, though he is currently placed at 45 in the Bluff Power Ranking.