Doyle Brunson was a Hall of Fame poker player who was the first to win $1 million and was widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the game.
- Died: May 14, 2023 (Who else died on May 14?)
- Details of death: Died in Las Vegas of at the age of 89.
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Doyle Brunson’s legacy
Known as the “Godfather of Poker” and the “Texas Dolly,” Brunson was one of the most celebrated poker players of all time and a highly influential figure on the card game scene. He was the first player to earn $1 million in winnings and had over $6 million in winnings overall. He was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 1988 at the age of 54, but he continued to compete until 2018. He won over $40,000 in his final match.
Born in Longworth, Texas, Brunson went to Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas, where he earned a master’s degree in administrative education. He would transition to professional poker shortly after graduation, however, after winning a month’s salary while playing on the first day of a new sales job.
Over the decades, Brunson would rack up a laundry list of accomplishments, including the second most World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets of all time (10, tied with Phil Ivey and Johnny Chan), two WSOP championships, 26 WSOP final tables, back-to-back WSOP main event wins in 1976 and 1977, and more. In 2006, Bluff Magazine called him the most influential force in poker.
Notable quote
“I respect anyone that pulls a chair up to a poker table, no matter what the stakes are.”—from Cardplayer Lifestyle, 2020
Tributes to Doyle Brunson
Full obituary: ESPN
