Bobby Baldwin, a native of America, is recognized for his accomplishments in poker. He was honored with an induction into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2003, following his victory in the 1978 World Series of Poker Main Event and his success in acquiring three additional WSOP bracelets.
Baldwin, also known as the Owl, secured his first two bracelets in 1977. In the subsequent year, he triumphed over Crandell Addington in a heads-up match to clinch the WSOP Main Event. At 28, he was the youngest ever to win the WSOP Main Event, a record that was surpassed by Stu Ungar a couple of years later.
In 1979, Baldwin added a fourth WSOP bracelet to his collection by winning the $10,000 2-7 Draw event, the same event that earned him his first bracelet two years prior. His most recent significant cash win was in 2012 when he finished seventh in the $1,000,000 Big One for One Drop, walking away with $1,408,000.
The renowned high-stakes poker lounge at the Bellagio is christened ‘Bobby’s Room’ in honor of Baldwin. Baldwin’s most significant tournament victory was in 1978 when he clinched the WSOP Main Event, winning both the title and the $210,000 top prize. He outplayed a final table consisting of seasoned poker players such as Ken Smith, Jesse Alto, Buck Buchanan, WSOP bracelet champion Louis Hunsucker, and business tycoon Crandell Addington, whom Baldwin outlasted in the heads-up play.
For the average person, this would mark the end of the journey, but not for Baldwin. He implored the casino for a $500 loan, which they eventually granted. Despite being down to his last few chips after losing that as well, Baldwin managed to turn the tide of the game and embarked on a winning spree, netting him close to $180,000.
With this enhanced budget at his disposal, Baldwin dedicated most of his university years to investing his resources and time into sports gambling. His keen interest was particularly in the NFL, but he also ventured into various other areas.
Not long after graduating, Baldwin tied the knot with his high-school love, but sadly their union was short-lived as they divorced only a year later.
His most recent live cash was earned during the 2012 World Series of Poker in the Big One for One Drop event.
Bobby Baldwin, a prior world champion and a 2003 nominee to the Poker Hall of Fame, presently holds the position of CEO at MGM/Mirage Resorts in Las Vegas and is recognized as one of the top ten influential figures in the gambling industry. He collaborated with Doyle Brunson on the highly successful Super System. Mike Caro, referred to as the “Mad Genius of Poker,” is globally acknowledged as the leading expert on poker strategy, psychology, and statistics, and has written ten privately published books and advanced strategies on poker.
