Born as Doyle Frank Brunson on August 10, 1933, and passed away on May 14, 2023, he was a professional American poker player who dedicated over five decades to the game. He was twice crowned as the champion of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event, was honored with an induction into the Poker Hall of Fame, and penned numerous poker-related books.
Brunson stands out as the pioneer poker player to bag $1 million from poker tournaments. His career boasts of ten WSOP bracelets, a record he shares with Johnny Chan and Phil Ivey, trailing behind Phil Hellmuth who has seventeen. Brunson is among the elite group of three players who have repeatedly won the Main Event at the World Series of Poker, with his victories coming in 1976 and 1977. Alongside Bill Boyd and Loren Klein, he is one of the rare players to have triumphed in WSOP tournaments for four successive years. Brunson also holds the distinction of being among the first six players to clinch both the WSOP Main Event and a World Poker Tour title. In a 2006 poll conducted by Bluff magazine, Brunson was voted the most impactful personality in the poker industry.
Brunson declared his retirement from tournament poker on June 11, 2018. On the same day, he took part in the $10,000 2–7 Single Draw at the 2018 WSOP. He succeeded in reaching the final table and secured the sixth position, resulting in a prize of $43,963.
Growing weary of the mafia-associated poker games on Exchange Avenue and Jacksboro Highway in Fort Worth, Brunson moved to the Midland and Odessa region in West Texas to pursue a career as a road gambler.
The profession of a road gambler traveling the Southern circuit was fraught with danger, involving games with criminals, outlaws, and other perilous situations. However, Brunson was not alone in this venture. He was a member of a group known as Texas Rounders, which comprised of Brian “Sailor” Roberts and Thomas Preston, also known as “Amarillo Slim”. This group would regularly participate in the illegal poker games across Texas, occasionally even pooling their money together.
Many details about Brunson’s experiences during his days as a roving gambler are recorded in his memoir, The Godfather of Poker. Brunson recounts a particular poker game in a farmhouse in Austin where they were held up at gunpoint, in one of the book’s sections.
“A group of seven men donning ski masks and armed with shotguns stormed in. There was no opportunity for anyone to flee,” Brunson penned. “The bandits corralled us against a wall, demanding we remove our lower clothing – every single piece.”
Brunson later relocated to Vegas along with his spouse and their four offspring. Poker was legal and considerably safer in Vegas, making life somewhat more comfortable for Brunson and his family.
He has authored six books, among them is And Deliver Us From Evil, a trilogy that delves into true crime stories. This served as the inspiration behind a CBS Television movie, Fugitive Among Us, featuring Eric Roberts and Peter Strauss. His most recent publication, Claytie, which narrates the life of Texas rancher/wildcatter/politician Clayton Williams, holds the record for being the highest selling title ever by Texas A&M Univ. Press.
I used to make a living as a professional card counter. This was back in 1980 when casinos were not yet aware of the tricks of professional 21 players. I had more successful nights at the tables than I could count. One particular night remains etched in my memory as the most unforgettable.
