Stu Ungar is considered by most to the finest NL Holdem Poker player ever.

The 3 time World Poker Champ was born in New York in ‘53 and began playing poker before becomming a teenager.

The young gambler started out betting gin and at the age of 10 had won his initial gin rummy tournament, while on vacation with his parents. By the age of 14 the small poker genius had become a pro and dropped out of school.

In 1954 Stu Ungar entered the record books by succeeding 10 grand in a gin tournament without losing a single hand, a record which still stands in New York these days.

The fast talking superstar has been likened, in poker terms, to athletic superstars such as Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Stu Ungar had a genuine skill for wagering poker but regardless of his successes in Texas holdem poker, he favored wagering gin.

Stu once said that there may a number of day be a greater NL Texas hold’em gambler than him except he couldn’t see how anyone could ever be a greater gin player.

In ‘80 Stu was put on the global map as one of the greatest Texas holdem Poker gamblers in the planet when he was crowned World Poker Champion for the 1st time. Astonishingly it was the first time he had played in the tournament.

The right after year he dismissed any suggestions that it had been luck, by effectively defending his title. And in ‘97 Stu set the record by succeeding his 3rd World poker championship.

Except this poker legend also struggled with substance abuse and a year after succeeding his third title Stu died in his hotel room. According to doctors, he had died from a heart attack which was brought on by his lifestyle.

Stu had began with nothing except his skill and natural talent for the casino game which made this poker wonderful a millionaire a lot of times over.