Legendary poker player and author Doyle Brunson died on Sunday in Las Vegas. He was 89 years old.
Brunson’s agent Brian Balsbaugh shared the news. With a description of the Brunson family.
The statement read: “It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our father, Doyle Brunson.” He was a beloved Christian man, husband, father and grandfather. We will have much to talk about in the coming days as we celebrate his legacy. Please keep Doyle and our family in your prayers. May he rest in peace.
Brunson, aka Texas Dolly, was a huge figure on the poker scene who helped popularize the game. In the year He won 10 World Series of Poker bracelets from 1976-2005, including the $10,000 No Limit Catch M Main Event.
In 1976, Brunson’s first WSOP Main Event prize was $220,000 from a 22-player winner-take-all field. In the year In 1977, he won $340,000. In 2022, the main event field swelled to 8,663 international entrants competing for a prize pool of $80.7 million. First prize is $10 million.
Brunson’s ‘Super System’ changed the game.
In the 1970s Since his rise to becoming a world-class player, Brunson’s influence on poker has had a major impact on the game’s meteoric rise. 2003 television development And more than that. The author of the 1978 WSOP winnings successfully described the strategy guide “Super System” in 1978. The 600 plus page book was an amazing first for anyone looking to read in-depth poker insights. Brunson in 2010 In 2005, he published a sequel, “Super System 2”.
Countless recreational and serious professional poker players have used the knowledge gained from the “Super System” as the basis for their games. Poker has since evolved into an advanced field of analytics, using high-powered computer solvers to advance their games. While the information in the “Super System” is outdated, its place in poker history is not.
The face of the TV boom
Poker exploded into popular culture in 2003 when Chris Moneymaker won the WSOP Main Event. The Tennessee accountant beat seasoned pro Sammy Farhan in his fight for the $2.5 million top prize. The telecast of the victory on ESPN prompted fans around the world to tune in to repeat the feat. It also led to the expansion of poker on TV, where Brunson became a star.
Brunson was a regular at WSOP events and telecasts of big-money games, where his name, aggressive play and great personality made him a fan favorite. The legend of Brunson’s rise to fame grew.
Brunson went 10-2 and won every WSOP main event, his weak starting hand becoming his signature. In each victory, he completed full houses in possession. His hand inspired players to try to win when he held them – mostly unsuccessfully. Pro Scott Sever told a story on the news of Brunson’s death, that he tried and failed to overshadow it with his visual hand.
When televised poker transitioned to online streaming, Brunson continued to play in high-profile tournaments in the late ’80s.
“We don’t stop playing because we get old, we get old because we stop playing.” Brunson repeats himself many times.
Brunson was fondly remembered by members of the poker community when news of his death broke.
Brunson in 2010 He was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 1988. He is survived by his wife Louise and children Todd and Pamela.