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Evelyn
Ng is emblematic of what it takes to be
successful in the modern poker age, i.e. the
television age. With so many cameras hovering
around the tables, it is often just as important
to look good as it is to play good. And to put
it mildly, Evelyn Ng looks good. She is one
smoking babe, combining class, elegance, and
beauty on a statuesque six-foot frame. When
Evelyn sits down at the poker table, she looks
like she is ready to hit a nightclub as soon as
she busts out. Which is not to say she is a bad
player. Evelyn Ng has some game, and she is a
fiery competitor. The combination of that and
her beauty will take her far in the poker world.
I
also have a soft spot for Evelyn because she
grew up in my hometown (the greatest city in the
greatest country in the world), Toronto, Canada.
Evelyn was introduced to poker at the age of 17
when she became a dealer in one of Toronto’s
many underground card rooms. Like all good
dealers, Evelyn observed the players who won
over and over again. She quickly realized that
poker is a game of skill and psychological
warfare, not a question of who is the luckiest.
Evelyn soon decided that she would rather play
the cards than deal them, and this coincided
with the advent of charity casinos and legalized
poker in the city.
While
rounding at the charity casinos Evelyn met the
young Daniel Negreanu, another good Toronto boy.
The two forged a connection and soon began
dating. Although the relationship didn’t last,
their friendship has remained strong to this
day. Throughout the years, Daniel has served as
Evelyn’s poker coach on an off and on basis.
She has proved to be a quick study.
Evelyn won a lot of respect for her performance
on the Ladies Night Invitational during season
two of the WPT. Before that event, there were
some in the poker community who ridiculed
Evelyn’s selection. They said she was picked
for her looks and nothing else. At the time, she
was known primarily as a ring game player and
Daniel Negreanu’s ex girlfriend. But when the
camera’s started rolling, Evelyn proved that
she came to play. She brought her A-game,
outplaying a tough table that included top
professionals Kathy Liebert, Jen Harman and
Annie Duke. Evelyn also brought an infectious
personality to the table, and by the end of the
event the majority of the crowd was cheering
loudly for her. Twice, Evelyn had Clonie all-in
and in bad shape. Clonie managed to suck out
holding K 5 to Evelyn’s K 10, and A 6 to 7 7.
After that, Evelyn got rattled and moved in with
Q 8. Clonie woke up with A J and came out on
top.
Of
course, Evelyn took this tough loss with class,
smiling for the cameras and toasting Clonie with
a glass of champagne. Evelyn had no reason to be
disappointed, because she was the real star of
the show. She showed that she is a real player,
and much more than a pretty face. I expect to
see some big finishes out of her in the future.
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