Stu Ungar is thought to be by most to the very best NL Hold em Poker gambler ever.
The 3 time World Poker Champ was born in New York in 1953 and began playing poker before becomming a teenager.
The young gambler started out wagering gin and at the age of ten had won his 1st gin rummy tournament, while on vacation with his parents. By the time he turned 14 the small poker maestro had become a professional and dropped out of school.
In ‘54 Stu entered the record books by succeeding 10 grand in a gin rummy tournament without sacrificing a single hand, a record which still remains in New York these days.
The quick speaking wiz kid has been compared, in poker terms, to athletic superstars like Joe Namath and Kobe Bryant. Stu Ungar had a genuine ability for wagering poker but regardless of his successes in Hold em poker, he favored betting gin.
Stu once said that there may some day be a greater No Limit Hold em player than him but he couldn’t see how anyone could ever be a greater gin player.
In ‘80 Stu was put on the world map as one of the very best Texas hold’em Poker players in the world when he was crowned World Poker Champ for the 1st time. Extraordinarily it was the first time he had played in the tournament.
The following year he dismissed any suggestions that it had been luck, by effectively defending his title. And in ‘97 Stu set the record by succeeding his 3rd World poker championship.
But this poker legend also battled with drug abuse and a year right after succeeding his third title Stu Ungar died in his hotel room. According to physicians, he had passed away from a heart attack which was triggered by his lifestyle.
Stu had started out with absolutely nothing except his ability and natural talent for the casino game which made this poker great a millionaire numerous times over.
