Stu Ungar is thought to be by many to the finest No Limit Texas hold em Poker gambler ever.
The 3 time World Poker Champ was born in New York in 1953 and began playing poker before reaching his teens.
The young bettor began wagering gin and at the age of ten had won his very first gin rummy tournament, while on vacation with his mother and father. By the time he turned fourteen the small poker maestro had become a pro and dropped out of school.
In 1954 Stu Ungar entered the history books by winning $10,000 in a gin rummy tournament without sacrificing a single hand, a record which still stands in New York today.
The quick talking superstar has been compared, in poker terms, to sporting superstars such as Joe Namath and Tiger Woods. Stu Ungar had a true talent for wagering poker except regardless of his successes in Texas holdem poker, he preferred playing gin.
Stu once said that there might some day be a far better No Limit Texas hold’em gambler than him but he could not see how anyone could ever be a far better gin player.
In ‘80 Stu Ungar was put on the world map as one of the finest Holdem Poker players in the earth when he was crowned World Poker Champion for the 1st time. Astonishingly it was the first time he had played in the tournament.
The following year he put aside any suggestions that it had been luck, by successfully protecting his crown. And in 1997 Stu set the record by winning his third World poker championship.
Except this poker master also struggled with substance abuse and a year right after winning his 3rd title Stu died in his hotel room. According to physicians, he had passed away from cardiac arrest which was triggered by his lifestyle.
Stu Ungar had started with nothing except his skill and expertise for the casino game which made this poker good a millionaire numerous times over.