American former poker player Doyle F. Brunson has been involved in the game for more than 50 years. He has won the Main Event of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) twice, been honored in the Poker Hall of Fame, and written multiple poker books.
Brunson was the first poker player to take home a $1 million prize. He has won 10 WSOP bracelets in his career, which is second most in history only to Phil Hellmuth’s 16 bracelets and ties him with Johnny Chan and Phil Ivey. In addition, he is one of only four players to have twice won the Main Event of the World Series of Poker in 1976 and 1977. Along with Bill Boyd and Loren Klein, he is one of just three players to have won a WSOP tournament four years in a row. He is also the first of six players to win both the World Poker Tour Championship and the WSOP Main Event. Brunson was awarded the poker industry’s most important individual by Bluff Magazine in January 2006.
During the summer of 2018, Brunson announced his retirement from tournament poker on June 11. On that day, he participated in the $10,000 2-7 singles drawing at the 2018 WSOP. He finished sixth with $43,963 at the final table.
One of three children, Brunson was born in Longworth, Fisher County, Texas. He was a basketball player for the Texas State All-State squad. [10] He won the mile in 4:43 in the 1950 Texas Interscholastic Athletic Meet. [11] He turned down numerous scholarship offers in favor of Hardin Simmons University in Abilene, Texas.
Brunson had interest from the NBA’s Minneapolis Lakers, but a knee injury put an end to his dreams of playing basketball professionally. He claims that his fractured leg put a stop to his lifetime dream of playing in the NBA and that he still occasionally needs crutches as a result of the injury. [13] In 1954, Brunson graduated with a bachelor’s degree, and the following year, he obtained a master’s in executive education. thereafter worked as a principal.
Prior to becoming hurt, Brunson started playing five-card poker. He increased his gambling after becoming hurt, winning enough to pay for his costs. He was hired as a salesman of office supplies after graduating. He participated in a game of seven-card stud on his first day of work and won more than a month’s salary. He immediately quit his job to pursue a career as a professional poker player.