Stu is considered by many to the greatest NL Holdem Poker player ever.
The three time World Poker Champ was born in New York in 1953 and started wagering poker before becomming a teenager.
The young gambler began wagering gin and at the age of 10 had won his first gin rummy tournament, while on holiday with his mother and father. By the age of 14 the small poker genius had become a pro and stopped going to school.
In ‘54 Stu Ungar entered the history books by succeeding $10,000 in a gin rummy tournament without losing a single hand, a record which still remains in New York today.
The quick talking superstar has been likened, in poker terms, to sporting greats like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Stu Ungar had a real ability for playing poker except in spite of his successes in Texas holdem poker, he preferred wagering gin.
Stu once said that there might several day be a much better No Limit Holdem player than him but he couldn’t see how anyone could ever be a improved gin player.
In ‘80 Stu Ungar was put on the world map as one of the ideal Texas hold’em Poker players in the globe when he was crowned World Poker Champion for the 1st time. Extraordinarily it was the 1st time he had played in the tournament.
The following year he dismissed any thoughts that it had been a fluke, by successfully defending his crown. And in ‘97 Stu set the record by winning his third World poker championship.
But this poker legend also struggled with substance abuse and a year following succeeding his third title Stu died in his hotel room. According to physicians, he had died from cardiac arrest which was triggered by his lifestyle.
Stu had started out with nothing except his ability and expertise for the casino game which made this poker great a millionaire a lot of times over.