Stu Unger Rise and Fall of a Poker Genius
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Stu Ungar: Rise and Fall of a Poker Genius
Explore the remarkable life of Stu Ungar, a legendary poker player and three-time World Series of Poker (WSOP) champion.
Introduction
Stu Ungar is a name synonymous with poker brilliance. A true icon in the world of professional poker, he left an indelible mark with both his talent and turbulent life. Ungar's story is one of rapid ascent, struggles with addiction, and an untimely death, captured in both a biography and a film.
Early Life
Born in 1953 in Manhattan's Lower East Side to a Jewish family, Stuart Errol Ungar was drawn to gambling from a young age. His father, a well-known bookmaker, passed away when Stu was just 13, leaving him under the influence of Victor Romano, a figure associated with the Genovese crime family. Ungar and Romano shared a prodigious memory, which they applied to poker and gin games. By his teens, Stu had mastered gin rummy, dropping out of school to pursue it full-time. Protected by the Genovese family, he navigated the gambling world with confidence.
The Rise
Stu's prowess in gin rummy was unparalleled. He famously drove top player Harry "Yonkie" Stein out of gin tournaments altogether. With limited competition left in gin, Stu shifted his focus to poker. In 1976, he moved to Las Vegas with his girlfriend, whom he later married, starting a family with their daughter, Stephanie.
In 1980, Stu claimed victory at the WSOP Main Event, defeating renowned players like Doyle Brunson. As the youngest ever WSOP champion, he earned the nickname "The Kid." Despite his poker success, Ungar maintained that gin rummy was his true forte, proudly stating that no one could surpass him in that game. His phenomenal memory also attracted attention at blackjack tables, leading casinos to bar him frequently. In 1982, the New Jersey Gaming Commission fined him for alleged cheating?"though his only tactic was his natural skill.
The Fall
By 1990, Stu's life was spiraling due to drug addiction. Although he led the WSOP event for three days, he was found unconscious from a drug overdose before its conclusion. Despite this setback, he still placed ninth, using his winnings to fuel his addiction further.
The Comeback
Ungar disappeared from professional poker until his celebrated return in 1997. Broke and battling addiction, he stunned the poker world by reclaiming his WSOP Championship title, earning the moniker "The Comeback Kid." However, this triumph was short-lived.
Untimely Death
Stu Ungar's life ended tragically in 1998 when financial struggles kept him from entering the WSOP. Just months after Scotty Nguyen won that year's event, Stu was found dead in a Las Vegas motel with only $800 on him. His death was attributed to heart issues caused by prolonged drug abuse.
Legacy
To learn more about Stu Ungar, consider reading 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, or watch the film High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story, directed by A. W. Vidmer and starring Michael Imperioli.
Stu Ungar's life remains a poignant reminder of both the heights of poker prestige and the depths of personal struggle.
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