Stu Ungar is considered by many to the finest NL Texas holdem Poker gambler ever.
The 3 time World Poker Champ was born in New York in ‘53 and began betting poker before becomming a teenager.
The young bettor began wagering gin and at the age of 10 had won his first gin tournament, while on vacation with his mother and father. By the time he turned 14 the small poker genius had become a professional and stopped going to school.
In ‘54 Stu entered the history books by succeeding 10 grand in a gin rummy tournament without losing a single hand, a record which still stands in New York today.
The fast speaking wiz kid has been likened, in poker terms, to athletic greats like Joe Namath and Tiger Woods. Stu Ungar had a true skill for wagering poker but despite his successes in Texas hold em poker, he preferred playing gin.
Stu once said that there may some day be a much better NL Holdem gambler than him except he couldn’t see how anyone could ever be a much better gin gambler.
In 1980 Stu was put on the global map as one of the finest Texas hold em Poker gamblers in the earth when he was crowned World Poker Champion for the 1st time. Amazingly it was the very first time he had entered the tournament.
The following year he put aside any suggestions that it had been a fluke, by successfully defending his crown. And in 1997 Stu set the record by winning his 3rd World poker championship.
Except this poker legend also fought with drug abuse and a year right after winning his third title Stu Ungar died in his hotel room. According to medical professionals, he had passed away from a cardiac event which was brought on by his lifestyle.
Stu had began with nothing except his ability and natural talent for the game which made this poker wonderful a millionaire a lot of times over.