Challenges: MPF percentile
68%
Seasons: 1 | Days played: 37 | Wins: 0 | Jury: 1
- Survivor 17: Gabon (2008) - 5th place, 14th out - 6th juror.
- Voted out in Episode 13, "Say Goodbye to Gabon" (Day 37).
| Challenge stats | Tribal council stats | Jury stats | Overall stats | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | ChW | ChA | ChW% | VFB | VAP | TCA | TC% | wTCR | JVF | TotJ | JV% | SurvSc | SurvAv |
| S17: Gabon | 1.14 | 10.40 | 0.11 | 9 | 7 | 12 | 0.74 | 1.91 | - | - | - | 0.85 | 3.05 |
| Career | 1.14 | 10.40 | 0.11 | 9 | 7 | 12 | 0.74 | 1.91 | - | - | - | 0.85 | 3.05 |
Ken Hoang - Performance ranks
Tribal: VFB% percentile
77%
Tribal: rVAP percentile
83%
Performance ranks are a quick visual measure of the contestant's season vs. historical data from all prior contestants, in three basic (scorable) categories:
1. Performance in individual challenges (MPF), as a measure of "physical game";
2. Ability to vote people out consistently (VFB%, or VFB/TCA), or "strategic game"; and
3. Ability to avoid being voted against (rVAP, or TCA-VAP) - which scales better than a percentage would - for "social/strategic game."
See also: Full glossary for all these abbreviations.
Ken Hoang - Challenge record
S17: Gabon 
Tribal/team challenge record (1-for-14; 1 sit-out):
- Gabon, Ep. 1 RC: "One for All" - Fang is slow up the final hill; Fang loses.
- Gabon, Ep. 1 IC: "Temptation Valley" - Crosses obstacles and digs; Fang loses.
- Gabon, Ep. 2 RC/IC: "Lemme Go Rock 'n' Roll" - Climbs up to untie keys; Fang loses.
- Gabon, Ep. 3 RC: "Kicking and Screaming - Sits out, as Fang wins.
- Gabon, Ep. 3 IC: "Lake Launch" - Works the puzzle, and Fang wins again.
- Gabon, Ep. 4 IC: "Big Oar Deal" - Still with Fang, which can't paddle or defend; Fang loses.
- Gabon, Ep. 5 RC: "Fruit Flies" - Catches fruit for Fang, but Fang loses.
- Gabon, Ep. 5 IC: "Cliff Bowling" - His ball is blocked by Dan; Fang loses, 8-7.
- Gabon, Ep. 6 RC: "Snake in the Grass" - Second to drop out for Fang; Fang loses.
- Gabon, Ep. 6 IC: "Jungle Relay" - With Matty, gives Fang a lead, but Fang loses.
- Gabon, Ep. 7 RC: "Elephant Eggs" - Tackled by Randy to lose a point; Fang loses, 3-0.
- Gabon, Ep. 8 IC: "Keep It Up" - Third Kota to drop out, and eventually, Kota loses.
- Gabon, Ep. 9 RC: "Super Golf" - Shoots the "putt" shots, but Kota loses, 2-1.
- Gabon, Ep. 11 RC: "Now or Never" - With Matty and Susie, part of the losing team.
Individual challenge record (1-for-7): (Mean % finish: 62.6%)
- Gabon, Ep. 7 IC: "Lake Log Jam" - Eliminated by Sugar in 1st round (tie-7th/12).
- Gabon, Ep. 9 IC: "Fired Up" - One of seven people to not make a flame (tie-3rd/9).
- Gabon, Ep. 10 IC: "The Domino Effect" - First to knock down dominoes, Ken wins! (1st/8).
- Gabon, Ep. 11 IC: "Q&A Bombs Away" - Hits the fourth ring, not good enough (tie-3rd/7).
- Gabon, Ep. 12 RC: "Swamp Monkeys" - Makes two baskets, but not three (tie-2nd/6).
- Gabon, Ep. 12 IC: "Mask Match" - Working on his puzzle as Bob wins (tie-2nd/6).
- Gabon, Ep. 13 F5 IC: "A-Mazing Gabon" - Working on his puzzle, doesn't win (tie-3rd/5).
Hero challenge/ duel record (0-for-0):
- Gabon: None.
Career totals - challenges
| Wins: | 1 |
| Played: | 14 |
| Win%: | 0.07 |
| Sat out: | 1 |
| Wins: | 1 |
| Played: | 7 |
| Win%: | 0.14 |
| Mean% Finish: | 62.6% |
| Wins: | 0 |
| Played: | 0 |
| Win%: | - |
| Mean% Finish: | - |
Ken Hoang - Tribal Council record
S17: Gabon 
Idols held/played (0/0):
- Gabon: None, although briefly had the clue in Ep.8 (Day 22).
VFB - Votes for the person booted (9/12):
| Tribal | Voted | Boot (totals) | VFB? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ep1 | Michelle | Michelle Chase (voted out, 8-1) | Yes |
| Ep2 | Gillian | Gillian Larson (voted out, 7-1) | Yes |
| Ep4 | Jacquie | Jacquie Berg (voted out, 5-2) | Yes |
| Ep5 | GC | 'GC' Brown (voted out, 6-1) | Yes |
| Ep6 | Kelly | Kelly Czarnecki (voted out, 5-1) | Yes |
| Ep7 | Ace | Ace Gordon (voted out, 3-2) | Yes |
| Ep8 | Marcus | Marcus Lehman (voted out, 3-2) | Yes |
| Ep9 | Charlie | Charlie Herschel (voted out, 5-4) | Yes |
| Ep10 | Randy | Randy Bailey (voted out, 5-3) | Yes |
| Ep11 | Matty | Corinne Kaplan (voted out, 4-3) | - |
| Ep12 | Matty | Crystal Cox (voted out, 4-2) | - |
| Ep13 (F5) | Susie | Ken Hoang (voted out, 4-1) | - |
| 12 | TOTALS | 9 | |
VAP - Votes against (7):
- Gabon, Ep. 2: One vote, from Gillian.
- Gabon, Ep. 8: Two votes, from Bob and Marcus.
- Gabon, Ep. 13 (F5 vote): Four votes, from Bob, Matty, Sugar, and Susie (voted out, 4-1).
Jury votes made (0/1):
- Gabon, Ep. 13: Voted for Susie Smith, who finished second, 4-3-0.
Career totals - Tribal Council
| Advantages held/played: | 0/0 |
| Idols found: | 0 |
| Idols played: | - |
| Votes voided: | - |
| VFB: | 9 |
| Tribals: | 12 |
| VAP: | 7 |
| Made: | 1 |
| For winners: | 0 |
| Received: | - |
Ken Hoang - Pictures
S17: Gabon -
Gabon intro shot -
Gabon intro shot -
Hiking in, Day 1 -
Time for introductions -
Talking about his gaming background -
The freshly picked Fang tribe, starting line, Ep1 RC -
Running up that hill -
The losing Fangs -
Listening to Gillian's pep talk -
In high school I was awkward around girls -
Taking Michelle out to a termite restaurant -
Starting line, Ep1 IC -
Crossing the swamp -
Digging deep -
The losing Fangs -
Thinking Gillian would be a better target than Michelle -
Fang, Ep1 Tribal Council -
Listening to Probst -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep2 RC/IC -
Chasing the boulder -
Retrieving a key -
Already tired of losing -
Talking about the vote -
Catching fish with GC -
Does Dan have the idol now? Should we vote him instead? -
Fang, Ep2 Tribal Council -
Listening to Dan -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep3 RC -
Watching from the sit-out bench -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep3 IC -
Getting started on the puzzle -
Fang wins immunity! -
Hugs -
Idoled up -
Pre-swap lineup, Ep4 -
Fang, ranked by perceived value -
The new Fangs return to camp -
Kelly hates Kota! We made a great pick! -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep4 IC -
Trying to get to the ball -
The losing Fangs -
Planning to put the vote on Jacquie -
Heading to Tribal -
Fang, Ep4 Tribal Council -
Listening to Crystal -
Checking out the elephant, Ep5 -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep5 RC -
Waiting to catch fruit -
Listening to the IC treemail -
Talking about GC disappearing before the challenge -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep5 IC -
Watching the tossing -
The losing Fangs, again -
Crystal finds the idol in Sugar's bag -
Fang, Ep5 Tribal Council -
Listening to Probst -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep6 RC -
Fang, not trailing yet -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep6 IC -
Starting line -
With Matty, as Fang takes the lead -
Fang blows it on the puzzle -
The losing Fangs -
Plotting with Crystal -
Learning Sugar gave the idol to Ace -
Guess we can't blindside Ace, then -
Fang, Ep6 Tribal Council -
Listening to Crystal -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep7 RC -
Watching as Ace gives up the winning point -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep7 IC -
About to lose to Sugar in the first round -
Talking about the plan to flip Sugar -
Warning Sugar that Ace will ask for her idol -
Fang, Ep7 Tribal Council -
Listening to Ace -
Charlie spies the idol clue at the fake merge feast, Ep8 -
That was *MY* idol clue! -
Watching Randy and Marcus toss the idol in the ocean -
The new Kotas arrive in camp -
Happy to leave Fang, time to get to work though -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep8 IC -
Starting li- ... and Crystal's out -
Time to wait for it to end -
Heading to Tribal -
Kota, Ep8 Tribal Council -
Talking to Probst -
Pleased with how Tribal went, Ep9 -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep9 RC -
Playing slingshot "golf" -
Talking about catching fish and being a provider, while Bob is at Exile -
Pre-merge lineup -
The newly merged Nobag tribe -
Starting line, Ep9 IC -
Plotting with the Fangs -
Talking about trying to woo Sugar -
Making the case to Sugar -
Nobag, Ep9 Tribal Council -
Listening to Crystal -
Listening to auction treemail, Ep10 -
Pre-auction sit-down -
I'll exile Bob, and take all his money -
Mmm, cookies -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep10 IC -
Starting line, first round -
Final round -
Almost ready... -
Ken wins immunity! -
Safe at Tribal Council tonight -
Sugar leaks the fake idol plan -
Nobag, Ep10 Tribal Council -
Listening to Randy -
Fishing with Bob, Ep11 -
Pre-challenge videos from home, Ep11 RC -
Starting line -
Retrieving cogs -
Red team loses the team portion -
Bob's wife is here? -
Telling his sister he's running the show -
A plan is made -
Answering questions, Ep11 IC -
Wow, Bob (and Corinne) have another idol?! -
I'm gonna flush it anyway -
Nobag, Ep11 Tribal Council -
Trying to explain the vote for Matty, Ep12 -
Laying a guilt trip on Bob -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep12 RC -
Retrieving a ball -
Bob wins, but takes Crystal and Ken -
Appreciating the reward trip -
Arrival at the reward site -
Reward feasting -
Sporting some fresh clothes on laundry day -
Visiting the gorilla reserve -
Returning to camp with clean clothes -
Talking about running the game -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep12 IC -
Starting line -
Going back for another check, as Bob wins -
Plotting with Crystal -
Bob promised to give me the necklace! -
Hello Mr. Kurns. I bad want money now. Me sick. -
Heading to Tribal -
Nobag, Ep12 Tribal Council -
Listening to Bob -
Sugar plays her idol for Matty -
Not happy that Crystal is gone, Ep13 -
Sugar swears all is not lost -
Pre-challenge lineup, final 5 IC -
Starting line -
Crossing the balance beam maze -
... and Bob wins again -
Well, I'm not too worried. Everyone is voting Susie. -
One of these people is headed to the jury -
Nobag, Final 5 Tribal Council -
Talking to Probst -
The 14th person voted out, and our sixth juror... -
Snuffed, Day 37 (Episode 13) -
The jury, Final Tribal Council -
Addressing the finalists -
The jury, reunion show, waiting for the vote reveal -
Full cast, reunion show
Ken Hoang - Interviews
S17: Gabon Pre-game interviews
- Andy Dehnart at Reality Blurred (9/15/08): "Ken Hoang: 'I'm mentally prepared. I'm not going to choke; I'm not going to freak out'"
Post-game interviews
- Peter Larsen for the Orange County Register (12/15/08): "O.C. Survivor player defied odds with strong showing"
- Andy Dehnart at Reality Blurred (12/17/08): "Ken: 'Everything I did out there was purely strategic'; Matty: 'Gabon humbled me immensely'"
- Dalton Ross at EW.com (6/23/20): "Survivor Quarantine Questionnaire: Ken Hoang relives the highs and lows of Gabon"
Ken Hoang - Bio
S17: Gabon Official CBS bio for Survivor: Gabon excerpts:
"Ken Hoang gives a new meaning to the term "gamer." Known to the gaming community as "the King of Smash," Hoang is a professional at his craft. As the current international champion of Nintendo's Super Smash Brothers Melee video game, Ken has traveled the world from Japan to Australia to prove his dominance.
Hoang uses his tournament winnings to help support his family. He and his siblings still live at home to help pay the mortgage. It has also led to a strong bond among his brothers and sisters. In fact it was his sister that started his addiction to Survivor.
While he may seem like an interesting choice for a game based in the outdoors, this gamer sees it as an amazing opportunity. Ken is very creative, and has a strong passion for art, a skill he is currently going to college to fine tune. When not playing videogames or brushing up on his art, Hoang enjoys playing with his pets, a Maincoon cat named Kinski and a Husky named Monster.
He loves the fact that he will be considered an underdog because everyone will underestimate his prowess at playing mind games. Nobody would look at him and believe he climbed Mt. Fuji at the age of 20. Ready to exploit his slight physical stature, Ken will trick his fellow players into seeing him as a non-threat, only to smash them if they get in his way.
Ken is single and currently resides in Westminster, Calif. His birth date is October 10, 1985."