World Series of Poker (WSOP) champion Scotty Nguyen missed the first half of the 2023 summer festival to undergo intensive surgery. Two years later, the 1998 Main Event champ and five-time bracelet winner says he has recovered from the “rough” procedure and is ready to give his fans a show, baby.
The Vietnamese-American pro has played a light schedule since the surgery, cashing a few times in 2023 and once at both the 2024 and 2025 WSOP. In a recent interview with PokerNews for the Life Outside Poker podcast, Nguyen revealed the extent of his recovery process in those years, after surgery for slipping rib syndrome that required operations on both hips and saw his body cut open extensively.
“You know, the surgery was rough,” Nguyen told PokerNews. “My whole body, the last couple of years, was like the doctor practicing (all over). I got cut everywhere, baby. But I’m good now.”
Recovering With Family
Nguyen, who has $12.7 million in The Hendon Mob earnings and whose first cash dates back to 1991, has played “very little poker” since the “bad World Series” this year, where he picked up just one cash in the $1,000 Seniors Championship. In that event, he finished 39th for $17,948.
“I’ve had a few months off. I’m in Vietnam visiting my family now,” the 62-year-old said. “So I’m kick(ing) back and enjoying my time in Vietnam.”
Nguyen hasn’t had to recover alone and credited his Russian partner Alsou with helping him get his life in order.
“First (when) I came to Vietnam, I struggled for being lazy and didn’t do nothing, and I don’t feel good most of the time. And I met her, she forced me every morning, you’ve got to go swimming, and walk, and do activity. And then now, you know, baby, because of her, I’m like, yeah, baby, let’s go!”
Nguyen appeared on the Life Outside Poker podcast to discuss his involvement with the Baltic region’s No Filter Poker Series, which includes an appearance at the upcoming Nordic and Baltic Championship Open in Tallinn, Estonia, from Oct. 17-22.
“I just want to make No Filter bigger and better when I come,” he said. “Every time I go to Europe, it’s just exciting. The players, the people, the fans. They love Scotty Nguyen, baby! So I’m so ready for them. I’m so ready to give them a good show.”
Who Does Scotty Think Are the Toughest Poker Opponents?
The interview covered other topics, including the legacy of Nguyen’s iconic line from the final hand of the 1998 Main Event when he told heads-up opponent Kevin McBride, “If you call, it’s gonna be all over, baby.”
“When I (said) that to my opponent, the last hand, I never thought my line would stand up until today … Now it’s like all over the world, everybody’s saying it, everybody’s talking about it … Every day, if I’m out there in the poker tournament, I will hear it not one time, at least ten times, in every event I play in.”
Nguyen also revealed who he considers to be the three toughest poker opponents. Listen to the interview to find out who they are.
Senior Editor U.S.
