Stu Ungar

It seems every sport, every art, every science has its tragic figure. In the world of professional poker Stu Ungar definitely qualifies as the player with the most potential and skill who died early because of personal problems. Ungar, born in 1953 in New York, was first recognized as a wizard in the card game called Gin. At one point in his young life he was so good at Gin that no one would play him.

Go West, Young Man

He eventually left New York and headed to Las Vegas, primarily because his gambling debts at the horse tracks got him into a bit of hot water. When he became fixture in Vegas he found it difficult to find places to play because of his card-game skills. He once said that he didn’t believe anyone could ever play Gin better than he did. It seems no one proved him wrong.

He soon became a successful Hold ‘Em pro, winning the World Series of Poker Main Event in 1980, at the age of 27. This period of time was perhaps Ungar’s peak as a professional card player. He beat Doyle Brunson to win the 1980 title and won again in 1981.

Drugs and Trouble

The tragedy of Ungar’s life was that he wasted millions on drugs, horse racing bets and sports betting. The best information on Ungar’s life states that he was broke many times and had a million dollars to his name at least four times. When he was in his mid-30s and into his 40s Stu Ungar was addicted to drugs (cocaine among them) and had trouble hanging onto money. He begged and scraped to get $10,000 to enter the WSOP Main Event in 1997. Sixteen years after his last win he took the title for the third time.

Ungar was considered a genius not only in the card room but in general terms. His IQ was considered to be among the highest of any living person. Yet he was known to erupt in anger, use foul language and insult dealers and others while playing. Still, his friend Doyle Brunson said that he was a nice person away from the poker table. He was married for a short time and had two children.

About a year later, in November 1998, Ungar was found dead in a motel room in Las Vegas. He was 45. Many professionals, including Brunson, consider Ungar to be the best talent ever seen in the game.