A windfall such as the one Yang has just landed can be difficult to handle.

Scotty Nguyen, the 1998 main event champion and beloved icon of the game, has admitted in past interviews to going broke at least 100 times earlier in his career, primarily because he struggled to control his gambling urges outside of poker. And Stu Ungar, perhaps the best tournament player ever, was eventually killed by his excesses, which included heavy drug use.

Not every poker player has such problems, but it’s not exactly rare, either. Such are the hazards of having fame and wealth beyond your dreams dumped into your lap in the blink of an eye. It’s not unlike winning the lottery, and there are plenty of stories of lottery winners ending up destitute not long after stumbling into fortune.

“It’s my understanding that a lot of lottery winners end up broke, and a lot of poker champions end up broke as well within a couple of years, unfortunately,” says Robert Varkonyi, who won $2 million when he bested British pro Julian Gardner to win the main event in 2002. “They don’t know how to save money, be a little conservative with some of the money, do some homework and find someone who you really trust.”

It can be difficult to adjust to such a life-changing amount of cash, especially if you are inclined to gamble in the first place, like many poker players are.

Ethan Miller / Getty Images Australian Joe Hachem, who won $7.5 million in the 2005 main event, says many poker players don't know how to handle their money.

Varkonyi says he thinks many of the stories of crazy sidebets and outrageous behavior are exaggerated to foster images, but Australian poker pro Joe Hachem disagrees.

“Most of the stories are true,” says Hachem, who won the main event — and $7.5 million — in 2005. “In poker, we have a lot of people who are gamblers who happen to be good poker players. So they keep chasing and chasing and chasing until they get hurt.

“They’re never satisfied. The winning is not where they get the thrill. The losing is not where they get the thrill. It’s the actual chase that gives them the thrill.”

Hachem says he was fortunate not to have to battle such demons.

Laura Rauch / AP Chris Moneymaker was working as an accountant when he won the main event in 2003.

“I was blessed because I didn’t have any vices,” he says. “So I didn’t go out and gamble big, or go do drugs, or party. I’m married happily with four children, happy with my life. So the money went straight to pay off the mortgage. And I invested the rest for my kids and helped a lot of my family out.”

But the pitfalls of a major World Series victory go beyond the obvious lure of gambling, drugs, and debauchery. There is temptation to spend your wealth to upgrade your lifestyle. New wannabe friends suddenly materialize out of thin air. Complete strangers send letters requesting handouts.

“Sometimes (when) you get cash like that, people like to buy expensive cars and things of that nature, and in a year or year and a half it’s gone,” says Mike Moneymaker, whose son Chris won the main event in 2003 for a $2.5 million payday. “They just don’t know how to handle it.”

Ethan Miller / AFP - Getty Images file Jamie Gold was sued by a friend for half his winnings in 2006. He settled the matter out of court.

Moneymaker pointed out that his son owns a masters in accounting and wasn’t “one to throw his money away.” As for the hangers-on? Moneymaker says his son had to change his phone number twice, even though it was unlisted.

“He’s pretty good about screening that stuff out,” Mike Moneymaker says. “You always get people who write in with their sob stories. You know, ‘my husband’s on dialysis and he’s confined to a wheelchair and we can’t pay our bills.’ You get those letters all the time.

“It’s been a crazy three years, but (Chris) puts family first. And his friends. You can go through life and count your true friends on one hand.”

Jamie Gold discovered that lesson the hard way, finding himself in an uncomfortable position after winning $12 million in last year’s main event. Gold was sued by his friend Crispin Leyser, with Leyser claiming Gold had promised him half his winnings as part of a prearranged deal. Gold quickly settled the matter without going to court, but was dogged by negative publicity from the incident.

Ethan Miller / Getty Images Greg Raymer found his newfound celebrity more difficult to deal with than the sudden wealth he attained in 2004.

“They knew it was a non-issue. I knew it was a non-issue,” Gold says. “Anyone on the inside with me knew there wasn’t really a lawsuit. They had filed it, it was a mistake, we were always going to split the money.”

Greg Raymer had a much more quiet experience with his big payday. He was working as an attorney for pharmaceutical research giant Pfizer when he banked $5 million for winning the main event in 2004. Raymer was so non-plussed by his poker success that he didn't leave Pfizer for two weeks after his big win, taking time to prepare his caseload for his successor. And three years later, he has yet to even have his cumbersome and uncomfortable championship bracelet properly sized.

Print this Email this Blog this  IM this

MORE FROM OTHER SPORTS

Other sports Section Front

Track team wins state title —with 1 girl Multisport race draws racers, party animals Doping boss aims to develop body chemistry profiles Vandy star smart to turn down Red Sox Walters' Wacky World: Reason to love Barkley Gold medal moms prepare to storm Beijing   Video: Olympic softball players juggle diapers, bats Back from the fall, Chelsea Davis eyes trip to Beijing Queen's granddaughter makes Olympic team USOC proposes keeping Ueberroth Other sports Section Front   Add Other sports headlines to your news reader: