Stu is regarded by many to the greatest No Limit Hold em Poker gambler ever.
The 3 time World Poker Champion was born in New York in 1953 and began playing poker before reaching his teens.
The young bettor started out playing gin and at the age of ten had won his first gin rummy tournament, while on holiday with his parents. By the time he turned fourteen the small poker maestro had turned pro and dropped out of school.
In ‘54 Stu Ungar entered the record books by succeeding 10 grand in a gin rummy tournament without losing a single hand, a record which still remains in New York today.
The fast speaking wiz kid has been likened, in poker terms, to sporting superstars such as Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Stu Ungar had a genuine ability for wagering poker but despite his achievements in Texas hold’em poker, he preferred playing gin.
Stu once said that there may some day be a greater NL Texas hold em gambler than him except he couldn’t see how anyone could ever be a improved gin player.
In 1980 Stu Ungar was put on the world map as one of the greatest Texas hold em Poker players in the planet when he was crowned World Poker Champion for the 1st time. Astonishingly it was the 1st time he had entered the tournament.
The subsequent year he put aside any thoughts that it had been a fluke, by successfully protecting his title. And in ‘97 Stu set the record by winning his third World poker championship.
Except this poker master also struggled with substance abuse and a year after winning his 3rd title Stu past away in his hotel room. According to doctors, he had died from cardiac arrest which was caused by his lifestyle.
Stu Ungar had started out with practically nothing but his ability and expertise for the game which made this poker wonderful a millionaire numerous times over.