Stu Ungar is regarded by many to the greatest No Limit Hold’em Poker gambler ever.
The three time World Poker Champ was born in New York in ‘53 and began playing poker prior to becomming a teenager.
The young bettor started out playing gin and at the age of 10 had won his very first gin rummy tournament, while on holiday with his mother and father. By the age of 14 the little poker maestro had turned professional and stopped going to school.
In 1954 Stu entered the history books by winning 10 grand in a gin rummy tournament without losing a single hand, a record which still stands in New York these days.
The quick talking wiz kid has been likened, in poker terms, to athletic superstars like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Stu had a actual skill for playing poker but regardless of his achievements in Texas hold em poker, he preferred wagering gin.
Stu once said that there might a few day be a much better No Limit Hold em player than him but he could not see how anyone could ever be a much better gin player.
In ‘80 Stu was put on the global map as one of the best Holdem Poker players in the earth when he was crowned World Poker Champion for the 1st time. Amazingly it was the very first time he had played in the tournament.
The following year he put aside any thoughts that it had been luck, by effectively protecting his title. And in ‘97 Stu set the record by succeeding his 3rd World poker championship.
Except this poker legend also fought with substance abuse and a year following succeeding his third title Stu Ungar died in his hotel room. According to doctors, he had died from cardiac arrest which was triggered by his lifestyle.
Stu Ungar had started out with nothing but his ability and natural talent for the casino game which made this poker fantastic a millionaire several times over.
