Stu Ungar Biography

Professional Poker Players

Stu "The Kid" Ungar

Stu Ungar was born in 1956 in New York. He was a gambler from the start. As a child he was successful gambling on the streets of the Lower

East Side.

Ungar is regarded as the greatest No Limit Hold'em player of all time. He is also known as one of the best gin players of all time. He is a legend to all in the poker world.

At the age of 22 Ungar moved to Las Vegas to play high stakes gin rummy. After 2 years of incredible success, he began playing poker. That same year he played in his first World Series of Poker. Because of his young age and little experience in No Limit Hold'em, he earned the nickname Stu "The Kid" Ungar. Despite this, he won the World Series. The next year he successfully defended his World Series title. Since then, only Johnny Chan has been able to duplicate this accomplishment.

Stu was also known for his talent at counting cards. He was allowed to play poker, but no casino would allow him to play blackjack on their premises.

After his drug and sports betting problem took a turn for the worse, Stu took a break from poker. This break ended up lasting 16 years, until in 1997 he returned to the World Series of Poker. He was dubbed "The Comeback Kid" by the Las Vegas media because of his long time away from the tables. Stu returned to his championship form at that World Series, winning his third title.

Unfortunately, Stu lost his winnings just months after his WSOP victory due to his drug and sports betting problem. He would never play in another World Series of Poker again. He would later be found dead at the Oasis Motel from a heart condition brought on from years of drug abuse.

Ungar will forever be known for his unbelievable talent at the poker table. He had a legendary ability to control the poker table. The game seemed to constantly flow around Ungar's decisions.

Career Accomplishments:
- 5 WSOP Bracelets
- 5 First Place Tournaments
- 15 Tournament Cashes
- Over $2 Million Career Tournament Earnings