Andrew FeldmanESPN.com2 Minute Reading
Ten-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner Doyle Brunson has died at age 89, his family said Sunday.
“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our father, Doyle Brunson,” said a statement from Brunson’s family, which was posted on Twitter by Brian Balsbaugh, Brunson’s agent. “He was a beloved Christian man, husband, father and grandfather. We will have more to say in the coming days as we honor his legacy. Please keep Doyle and our family in your prayers. May he rest in peace in peace.”
The cause of death was not announced.
Brunson, known as the “Texas Dolly” and the “Godfather of Poker,” is a member of the Poker Hall of Fame, inducted in 1988 when he was 54. He had more than $6 million in live tournament earnings. His endless accolades include ten WSOP bracelets (tied for second all-time with Phil Ivey and Johnny Chan), 26 WSOP final tables and a victory on the World Poker Tour.
Brunson won the World Series of Poker main event in consecutive years in 1976 and 1977, and made the final table of that event three more times. The starting hand 10-2 is known as Doyle Brunson, because he won the WSOP main event with that hand that same year.
He was rarely seen without his cowboy hat and big smile, a look that made him stand out even more during the poker boom of the early 2000s. As he got older, his WSOP main event elimination every year became a memorable moment, as it was announced to all the players in the tournament. They rose from their seats to offer the legend a standing ovation as he left the room. His last WSOP cash came in 2018, when he made the final table in the $10,000 2-7 lowball event.
Beyond the tournament, Brunson continued to play in the highest stakes money games in the world. He has been a staple on the Las Vegas poker scene for decades and has taught millions more how to play through his books, Super System and Super System 2. The original Super System is often referred to as the bible. of poker. Brunson is an ambassador for the game and has had many tournaments named in his honor.
Brunson was born in Longworth, Texas. He was an outstanding college basketball player, but knee injuries prevented him from pursuing the sport professionally. He is survived by his wife, Louise; his son Todd; and his daughter, Pam. Todd Brunson is also a member of the Poker Hall of Fame; when he won his bracelet in 2005, the Brunsons became the first father-son duo to both win WSOP gold.
