Friends, fans and fellow players continue to pay tribute to poker legend Doyle Brunson in the aftermath of his death on May 14. The championship player called the “Godfather of Poker” and “Texas Dolly,” was 89 years old.
He won the World Series of Poker (WSOP) 10 times during his colorful career, including the Main Event in 1976 and 1977.
According to CBS News, five-time WSOP winner Scotty Nguyen tweeted that he “can’t believe this day has come—you will always be held high in our hearts, the man, the myth, the legend & the godfather of poker, baby! “Mr. Brunson, you made poker what it is – Thank you for what you give to all of us.”
Brunson’s longtime rival Daniel Negreanu called him a “legend.”
“There will never be another Doyle Brunson,” Negreanu tweeted. “He will be missed by many, the Godfather of Poker.”
“This one is a heartbreaker,” actor James Woods tweeted. “Doyle Brunson, the greatest poker player who ever lived, has cashed in his chips.
“Doyle was so kind and helpful to me. He was gracious to my late dear brother and every friend I introduced him to. A gentleman and a genuine legend.”
Phil Hellmuth tweeted that Brunson “always played hard … and ruled the high stakes cash games in Las Vegas.”
Scott Seiver recalled, “One of the first times playing with him, I bluffed $40,000 in a hopeless spot because I had T2o and wanted to show him I could beat him with it. As he raked the pot, he just looked at me and smiled and said, ‘Do you know how many people have given me their $ trying to do that?’”
“His accomplishments dwarf mine,” tweeted Greg Raymer, “and it is a great honor to share with him the title of World Champion.”
In college, the Texan aspired to a career in basketball. Then a knee injury ended his hoop dreams. According to Yahoo Sports, Brunson became a star during the poker TV boom of the early 2000s, as a regular on broadcasts of WSOP events and high-stakes cash games.
“His reputation, aggressive play and gregarious personality, made him a fan favorite,” the news outlet reported. “Brunson won each of his WSOP Main Events while holding 10-2, a poor starting hand that became his signature. “He completed full houses with the holding in each win. The hand inspired players to try to win—largely unsuccessfully—while holding it.
Brunson was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 1988. His book “Super System,” influenced several generations of poker players.
