Finally! J.C. Tran is Champion

By Matthew Showell Mar 28, 2007 | 3 years ago

J.C. Tran wins the 2007 World Poker Challenge

It's been a long time coming, but today J.C. Tran was able to seal the deal and take down his first WPT title. At his third final table this season alone and his second heads-up match in as many months, J.C. defeated Juan Carlos Alvarado in only a few hands to become the 2007 World Poker Challenge champion. J.C. took a few minutes to give me his thoughts after it was all over.

Well congratulations J.C. You've been at so many WPT final tables in the last few years but this is your first win, how are you feeling right now?

Man, it's a great feeling. It feels a lot better than finishing second in L.A. even though that paid a lot more money. But winning a WPT title was one of my goals coming into poker, and accomplishing that is a big step for me in becoming a force in the poker world.

J.C. Tran Wins the 2007 World Poker Challenge

What are you feeling the most right now, relief or vindication?

I just feel very relieved. It's just getting that monkey off my back you know? It's not second, it's not fifth, it's not sixth, it's first and that's just such a great feeling.

Is winning worth more to you at this point than the money?

J.C. Tran wins the 2007 World Poker Challenge

The money is very important to me, don't get me wrong. $700,000 is a lot of money. But winning a title means a lot also. They're both really important but getting this one out of the way is just really comforting.

Tell us about how you felt coming into this final table. Did you feel a lot of pressure?

I felt really relaxed; I didn't feel a lot of pressure. I remembered exactly how it went in L.A., and I just told myself not to get out of line. David Pham was on my left, he's a great player. He's someone I was really concerned about.

David Pham at the final table of the 2007 World Poker Challenge

Him and I are friends, and we usually don't play each other hard out but today we did. A couple big pots against him and when I knocked him out I felt really bad. Other than that there was a bunch of good players at the table but I felt like I deserved it more due to the fact that I've been there and been deep a lot lately.

Tell us about your heads-up opponent J.C. Alvarado.

Hey man, he's a good young player, he's only 21. Second is a great accomplishment, it took me a long time to get up to second and he did it right away at 21. But he lacked the WPT final table experience because it's not a regular final table. You've got the media and the lights and the cameras, it's different. But he's going to learn, he's going to be at another final table and I'll see him down the road.

Juan Carlos Alvarado at the final table of the 2007 World Poker Challenge

Well you almost had him when your two pair got counterfeited on the river. Did you feel like it was slipping away from you at that point?

After I lost that pot, I still had a 2-1 chip lead, and to me, heads-up, I still feel like I'm the favorite. And I still felt good because I have more experience than him.

J.C. Tran and Friends

Like I said, the cameras and the lights interfere with your thinking. I played with him for the last couple days, and he wasn't playing like that. He was just a little rushed.

Well congratulations again J.C. We know how much this means to you.

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We were all happy to see J.C. take it down tonight; no one has paid more dues on the World Poker Tour than him. It's unbelievable to see someone perform so consistently in big-field tournaments, but it's great to see that same person go the distance and become a champion.