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 While
most players are judged on their results alone, it seems that women fall under a whole different criteria of scrutiny and pressure
to show what they’re made of.
Liz Lieu is well versed in this side of poker and has proven herself as a fierce competitor that beats the best of the best
whether it be male or otherwise. With her unquestionable reputation as a cash game player, along with her growing resume of
tournament finishes, she is well aware of the environment that she has been made to overcome.
Born August 2, 1974 in Vietnam, her family came to the United States just one year after her birth. Raised in Colorado with
her older sister, her parents worked hard to make the best life possible for their growing family. Her parents encouraged a
strong education, yet Liz had other interests that did not include homework.
An interest that she had developed at an early age was cards, specifically Chinese poker. By the time she was 18 she had a
knowledge of cards and had begun running her own home game. Being entrepreneurial at heart, Liz and a friend created a game
in Colorado centered around Holdem and Pai Gow. This was the beginning of what was to become a career and love affair within
the world of high stakes poker.
Around the time when Liz was developing her poker prowess, an emotional tragedy struck her family. Lieu’s father suffered a
heart attack. Using this crisis as a personal catalyst, she made up her mind to give up everything and focus on cards. She
said to her parents that she was going to quit working and play fulltime. As part of her culture she would support her
parents, as she felt it was her duty and that she owed them nothing less.
Liz took her bankroll to Las Vegas to try her game
at a higher level. She began to progress and eventually started playing $200-400 and beyond. With most poker stories, there are a number
of hurdles to overcome and Liz would be no different. Involved in personal relationships, which in the long run affected her game, she lost her
bankroll and was on the verge of starting over.
However, she had the support of her best friend and professional player, John Phan, and turned to his guidance and wisdom to regain
her strength. Listening to his advice and applying a new found hunger and determination to her game, she began to succeed again.
The willingness to not give up is a perfect characteristic that defines Liz Lieu’s person. Rising through the upper echelon
of the cash game world, many, including her closest friends had suggested she add tournaments to her growing repertoire.
Being one to listening closely to sage advice, she entered her first major event at the 2005 World Series of Poker.
Her results proved her peers correct, as she cashed three times, which included one final table giving her a 5th place and a
pay day of $168,000, in the $1500 no limit Hold'em event.
One of her next stops was the 2006 L.A. Poker Classic at the Commerce Casino, where she won her first major victory in the $1000 limit Hold'em event.
Over the next few months she began to see the power of her poker accomplishments as many offers came through the door, eventually making a deal with
Martin de Knijff and his online poker site Martins Poker.
Along with traveling the tournament circuit, Liz has many interests and projects. Inspired by people such as Barry Greenstein,
Liz has created a foundation along with best friend John Phan to help the poor in Vietnam. They make regular trips home bringing
rice and supplies to villages, children’s orphanages, elderly homes and about 60 different temples.
She has also adopted the WIN (Women In Need) Foundation. She states on her website: “I know what it’s like to go through incredibly
tough times and have to basically start life over. This is an organization that helps women do that and I couldn’t be prouder to
endorse them,” she said. “What they do is close to my heart.”
Among Lieu's notable tournament accomplishments are back to back victories at the L.A. Poker Classic in 2006 and 2007.
*Those interested in photos of Liz, Pauly's Tao Poker features Liz Lieu Tuesdays.
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