Vietnamese-American ‘Poker Master’ loses $60,300 in theft by nephew

Nguyen Van Men, who has earned over $11 million from dozens of poker tournaments in the U.S., reported that his nephew, Dinh Chi Vu, 41, stole VND1.5 billion ($60,300) worth of valuables, including cash and Rolex watches. Phan Thiet City police on Sunday said they had arrested Vu.

Dinh Chi Vu at a police station in Binh Thuan, August 2024. Photo courtesy of the police

Men informed the authorities last week that while he was in the U.S. in May, he entrusted his house to his sister and nephews. Upon returning on Aug. 20, he discovered his bedroom unlocked and found that approximately VND200 million and $8,000 in cash, three Rolex watches, and various pieces of jewelry were missing from his safe.

Following an investigation, police identified Vu, who lived in the same house, as the prime suspect. Vu confessed to purchasing lock-picking tools to break into Men’s room, where he found the key to the safe and stole the contents. He admitted to selling the jewelry and U.S. dollars at gold shops in Phan Thiet and hiding the remaining cash.

A Rolex watch and other allegedly stolen items police seized after arresting Dinh Chi Vu. Photo courtesy of police

An investigation is ongoing.

Men, whose poker success earned him the nickname “The Master” from Card Player magazine, is well-known in the poker circuit for his significant winnings in the U.S.