Jerry Yang (poker player)

Xao "Jerry" Yang (born 1968) is an amateur poker player from Temecula, California and the 2007 World Series of Poker Main Event champion.

Yang started playing poker in 2005. He entered the 2007 World Series of Poker after winning a US$225 satellite at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula. Prior to the World Series, he had four cashes in local California events.

At the final table, Yang went from starting eighth in chips to holding a big chip lead that he never relinquished. The process of accumulating this chip lead involved Yang knocking out 7 of the 8 other players at the final table with him. Heads-up against Tuan Lam, he won the title with against Lam's  when he hit a nine-high straight on the river after Lam had caught a queen on the flop. After a 12-hour final table, Yang had won US$8,250,000 for the victory at 3:35 AM local time.

Yang summarized his tournament strategy: I study my opponents very carefully, and when I sensed something, when I sensed some weakness, I took a chance. Even if I had nothing, I decided to raise, reraise, push all-in or make a call....The only way that I could win this tournament was by being aggressive from the very beginning and that’s exactly what I did. And thank God I was also able to pick up some good cards at the same time.

Once Yang was guaranteed a share of the prize money he pledged to donate 10% percent of his winnings to three charities (the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Feed the Children, and the Ronald McDonald House), as well as his alma mater, Loma Linda University.

As a result of winning the 2007 World Series of Poker main event, Jerry Yang currently ranks 8th in the all time money list for live tournaments.

Personal life
Yang, an ethnic Hmong, was born in Laos. When the communists took over in the 1970s, his family escaped to Thailand where they spent four years in a refugee camp. He lost a brother and sister while living in the camp. He and his family moved to the United States in 1979.

Yang holds a Masters degree in health psychology from Loma Linda University and works as a therapist and social worker. He is married and has six children.