He is known to bring an orange for luck to poker tournaments. The reason for this is as follows: The World Series of Poker in the 1980s allowed players to smoke and Johnny Chan claimed he had trouble breathing because of the second hand smoke. During one tournament he bought an orange from the snack bar and sniffed it which felt like a breath of fresh air to him, allowing him to escape the smell of tobacco. He eventually won that tournament.
Won bracelets at World Series of Poker in Limit Hold'em (1985), Seven Card Stud (1994), Deuce to Seven Draw (1997), Pot Limit Omaha (2000 & 2003), No Limit Hold'em Match Play (2002), $5,000 No Limit Hold'em (2003) and Pot Limit Hold'em (2005).
He is one of three poker players to win ten World Series of Poker
bracelets. The two others are Doyle Brunson (the 1976 and 1977 WSOP
champion) and Phil Helmuth (the 1989 WSOP champion).
Won the 1987 and 1988 World Championship bracelet in the World Series of Poker (No Limit Texas Hold'em).
Finished second in the 1989 World Series of Poker Main Event, he was
beaten by fellow ten bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth Jr. Had he won that
tournament, he would have won 3 Main Events in a row.