Stu Unger Rise and Fall of a Poker Genius
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Stu Ungar: The Rise and Fall of a Poker Legend
Overview
Explore the captivating life of Stu Ungar, a poker legend and three-time World Series of Poker (WSOP) champion.Early Life
Stuart Errol Ungar was born in 1953 to a Jewish family in Manhattan's Lower East Side. His father, a well-known bookmaker, and his mother's health struggles shaped his early fascination with gambling. After his father passed away, a neighbor named Victor Romano, affiliated with the notorious Genovese family, became a mentor to 13-year-old Stu. Both possessed extraordinary memories, which they used in poker and gin rummy games.Stu quickly became an accomplished gin player, dominating tournaments with his exceptional skills. Dropping out of school, he pursued a career as a full-time gin rummy player, with the Genovese family offering protection against those offended by his combative playing style.
Rise to Fame
Stu's success in gin led him to dominate professional players. He famously ended the career of top player Harry "Yonkie" Stein. With no competition left, Stu shifted his focus to poker. In 1976, he moved to Las Vegas with his girlfriend, and they married, welcoming a daughter, Stephanie.In 1980, Stu won the WSOP Main Event, defeating legends like Doyle Brunson and earning the nickname "The Kid." Despite winning the 1981 WSOP Main Event, he considered himself primarily a gin player. He famously claimed that, while better poker players might arise, none would surpass his gin rummy prowess.
His skills extended to blackjack, but casinos frequently barred him due to their inability to match his talent and memory. In 1982, the New Jersey Gaming Commission fined him, though his methods were merely a display of natural gifts, not cheating.
The Downfall
By 1990, Stu returned to the WSOP amid heavy drug use. Leading in chips initially, he vanished after a few days, found unconscious from a drug overdose. Despite this setback, he finished ninth, securing funds to fuel his addiction.The Comeback
Seven years later, in 1997, Stu returned to the WSOP, broke and battling addictions. Despite these challenges, he triumphed, reclaiming the WSOP Championship and earning media acclaim as "The Comeback Kid." However, this resurgence was fleeting.Untimely Death
Stu didn't compete in the 1998 WSOP, unable to pay the entry fee. Tragically, just months after Scotty Nguyen won the event, Stu was found dead in a Las Vegas motel room with only $800. His death was attributed to a heart condition caused by prolonged drug abuse.Learn More
- Book: "One of a Kind: The Rise and Fall of Stuey The Kid Ungar, The World's Greatest Poker Player" by Nolan Dalla, Peter Alson, and Mike Sexton.- Film: "High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story," directed by A.W. Vidmer, starring Michael Imperioli.
Stu Ungar's enigmatic life remains a testament to genius marked by brilliance and tragedy, securing his legacy as a legendary poker player.
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