Nam Le

Nam Thien Le, born on September 10th, 1980, is an American professional poker player from Huntington Beach, California. He has achieved an impressive record of live poker earnings with over $7.6 million. His best live cash of $1,198,300 came when he finished in 1st place at the World Poker Tour Bay 101 in February 2006.

Nam Thien Le: Early life

Nam Le was born on September 10, 1980, in Irvine, California. He grew up in Southern California, where gambling and card games were integral to the local culture, thanks to the many legal casinos and card rooms in the region. By the time he reached the legal gambling age, his friend Tuan Le had already developed a passion for poker. Tuan frequently played in $20/40 hold’em games at the Hustler Casino while being mentored by the well-known player Barry Greenstein.

Tuan shared much of his knowledge with Nam, who eagerly absorbed the information and began to apply it to his own game. By 2004, Nam had become a successful cash-game player, dedicating a significant amount of time to playing in L.A.-area casinos near his home in Huntington Beach. During this time, he formed close friendships with prominent L.A. pros such as J.C. Tran, Quinn Do, and Chino Rheem. These relationships encouraged him to participate in the growing tournament scene.

By 2005, Nam Le shifted his focus almost entirely to tournament poker, marking a significant turn in his professional career.

Nam Thien Le: Live Tournament Participation

Thien Le recorded his first live cash in February 2004, he finished 5th in a $500 + $40 No Limit Hold’em event at the Poker Classic in Los Angeles, earning $12,330.

Two years later, in February 2006, he achieved a major milestone by winning the $10,000 WPT Main Event at the Bay 101 Shooting Star in San Jose, earning $1,198,300.

Following this success, in July 2006, he took 2nd place in a $2,000 No Limit Hold’em event at the 37th World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, which awarded him $401,647.

Furthermore, in February 2008, he finished 4th in a $9,900 + $100 No Limit Hold’em Championship Event at the Poker Classic in Los Angeles, earning $411,770.

In September 2008, Le continued his strong performance by winning the $150,000 No Limit Hold’em High Rollers Event at the Asia Pacific Poker Tour in Taipa, taking home $473,915.

Later that year, in October 2008, he finished 2nd in the $15,000 + $400 WPT Championship at the 6th Annual Festa Al Lago Classic in Las Vegas, earning $943,215.

Most recently, in August 2024, he placed 6th in the €960 + €140 Mixed Games: 8-Game (Event #11) at the European Poker Tour in Barcelona, cashing $5,474.

Conclusion

Nam Thien Le has made a significant mark in professional poker, amassing over $7.6 million in live tournament earnings. His career highlights include winning the WPT Bay 101 Main Event in 2006 for nearly $1.2 million and consistent strong finishes in prestigious events. Le’s journey from cash games to tournament success, along with his connections in the poker community, underscores his skill and adaptability in the competitive poker landscape.