David Chiu

When Chinese native David Chiu was a small child, a swimming accident claimed 35 percent of his hearing capacity. As much of a damper the mishap may have put on David’s ability to listen, it increased his ability to concentrate exponentially. Concentration proved to be a useful tool in Chiu’s poker talent arsenal and one that would earn him millions of dollars playing a game that he loves.

When he was a restaurant owner in Colorado David took a second job as a poker dealer. When he realized he could make more money out of the box, he honed his poker skills in smaller tournaments around Las Vegas. His first major tourney win came in 1996, taking down the $2,000 buy-in Limit Hold ‘em event at the 27th Annual World Series of Poker. Over the next 9 years, Chiu earned himself three more bracelets to bring the total to four, putting himself in the company of poker legends like Amarillo Slim, Daniel Negreanu, and Puggy Pearson.

David’s ability to pay full attention to his poker opponents has afforded him the ability to read them with more precision than almost anyone else in the game. Although his parents disapproved of his professional choice, everyone in the industry is impressed with his patience, and analytical approach to tournament play. In 2008, Chiu made one of the biggest comebacks in major tournament history after finding himself outchipped 5:1 by Gus Hansen in the World Poker Tour $25,000 buy-in No Limit Hold ‘em Championship at the Bellagio. After a lengthy heads up battle, David walked away with the prestigious title and $3,389,140.

When he’s not playing in big buy-in tourneys around the globe, Chiu also plays in high stakes cash games both in brick and mortar casinos and online where he is a member of the Full Tilt Poker team. When David gets down to work, he is all play, however, when he gets down to play, he does exactly that. As the stakes get lower so does Chiu’s seriousness in the game as he says, “when the betting is $100 or $200 a hand, I may not even look at my cards.” But with the ability and skill that has been engrained in his powerful poker mind over the years, there is a good chance he’s still going to have the most chips in front of him at the end of the night, the cards don’t really matter. And with almost $6,000,000 in lifetime tournament earnings, David Chiu can afford to relax once in a while.