No need to Tran-slate: the Trans are big winners!

Three Vietnamese poker players all with the last name of Tran have ended up among the top dozen finishers at Event #7 of the 2008 World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

The event, a $2,000 buy-in, no-limit Texas hold ‘em tournament, had 1,592 participants and a total prize pool of about $3 million.

The top 153 finishers in the tourney took home cash prizes.

Players named Tran finished in fourth, seventh and twelfth places: Theo at No. 4, J.C. at No. 7 and Thong at No. 12.

The event was won by Matt Keikoan of Richmond, California, USA, who earned his first WSOP bracelet and $550,529.

His lifetime tournament earnings from poker are now almost $1 million.

Previously, his biggest win was 63rd place in the Main Event at last year’s WSOP, a finish that earned him about $154,000.

The runnerup in 2008 WSOP Event #7 was Shannon Shorr of Las Vegas, who earned $349,142.

Coming in third was Carter Gill of Mt. Shasta, California, USA, who pocketed $228,897.

Ending fourth was Theo Tran of Las Vegas, who copped $191,231.

Finishing fifth was Mihai Manole of Romania, who earned $155,013.

Taking sixth was Chris Bjorin of London, England, who pocketed $123,141.

Seventh was J.C. Tran of Sacramento, California, USA, who bagged $94,166.

In eighth was Alex “Diesel” Bolotin of New York City, New York, USA, who takes home $72,436.

Coming in ninth was Mike Lisanti of Canada, who earned $50,705.

Finishing in tenth was Manelic “Manny” Minaya of Tampa, Florida, USA, who picked up $33,320.

Taking eleventh spot was Yan Chen of Irvine, California, USA, who also snagged $33,320.

Coming in twelfth was Thong Tran of West Hills, California, USA, who also pocketed $33,320.

None of the Trans are related.

Tran is a common surname in Vietnam, like Smith or Jones is in North America.

(E-mail Tom Somach at tomsomach@yahoo.com.)