Noel Furlong

J. J. Furlong (born December 25, 1937 in Dublin, Ireland) is an Irish businessman and recreational poker player who won the 1999 World Series of Poker main event. Furlong was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland. He originally became a millionaire from his carpet manufacturing business. He was given the nickname "Noel" because he was born on Christmas Day. Furlong began playing poker in 1984, and in his first trip to the World Series of Poker in 1989, he placed 6th in the main event. That final table was won by Phil Hellmuth, and also included two time world champion, Johnny Chan, and business executive and professional poker player, Lyle Berman. Ten years later, Furlong's biggest win came in the 1999 WSOP main event, in which he won $1...