If you have been following the World Series of Poker in recent years, you need no formal introduction to the name John Juanda. Without question one of the most outstanding players to compete in the tournament over the course of the past decade, this man has earned a reputation for fearless, gutsy and amazingly incisive game play.

John Juanda was born in Indonesia in 1971 and spent his formative years in that nation. It was in 1990 that he first arrived in the United States, attending Oklahoma State University before moving on to earn a degree from Seattle University. Though a devoted and disciplined academic student, John Juanda was already amassing some formidable poker skills. And yet, at that point in his life, the prospect of making a living by playing the game seemed quite remote. Juanda, who always possessed an extremely strong work ethic, did whatever it took to get by during those lean years, including selling Bibles door to door. But all along, a dragon was sleeping inside his mild mannered exterior.

It was in the year of 2002 that the dragon awoke, big time. John Juanda was named that year's tournament champion of the year, racking up a total of three World Series of Poker titles as well as a World Poker Open championship title. That was certainly a watershed year for John. There would be no more Bible sales in his future.

Since bursting onto the scene, John Juanda has racked up 27 money finishes in the World Series of Poker and another 10 on the World Poker Tour. As of the writing of this article, the winnings he has garnered in all of his tournament play are well north of $6,300,000. Yet his accomplishments cannot be measured in dollars and cents alone. The style in which he plays the game has had an indelible impact upon an entire generation of poker enthusiasts.

There is little doubt among fans, players or commentators that this hard-working yet soft-spoken man is one of the most feared and respected players on the professional poker circuit. He is consistently entertaining to watch and impossible to predict in equal measure. It is very safe to speculate that he will remain on the forefront of the poker scene for many years to come and will provide many more unforgettable moments at the world series of poker and other major and vans.