Remembering Poker Players Who Died In 2024

The New 12 months shouldn’t be solely a chance for poker gamers to look forward, maybe setting new resolutions and targets, but additionally an opportunity to look again on the 12 months passed by.

In 2024, that entails remembering these poker gamers, business members, and personalities who sadly handed on.

Right here’s a have a look at a few of these we misplaced over the previous 12 months.

Founding Tiltboy Member Perry Friedman Passes Away

Perry Friedman, one of the colourful characters through the “Poker Growth,” handed away in January from pancreatic most cancers on the age of 55. Friedman was generally known as an aggressive jester on the desk, usually sporting multi-colored hairstyles, chattering nonstop, and customarily being the lifetime of the get together.

Born Could 15, 1968, in Brooklyn, New York, Friedman was a widely known World Collection of Poker (WSOP) grinder and bracelet winner, in addition to a founding member of the“Tiltboys” alongside Phil Gordon and Dave “Diceboy” Lambert.

Friedman graduated from Lengthy Island’s Sachem Excessive College in 1986 after which attended Stanford College the place he was a member of the biking group. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Mathematical and Computational Science within the Fall of 1990 and his Masters in Laptop Science in 1991. He went on to work for IBM earlier than returning to the Bay Space and getting a job with Oracle. He would finally begin an organization known as Decide’em Sports activities, which was acquired by Web Sports activities Community earlier than collapsing when the Web bubble burst.

In 2003, he was the primary worker employed at Tiltware, the software program firm utilized by Full Tilt Poker within the quickly increasing on-line poker market.

Again in 2002, Perry grew to become a WSOP gold bracelet winner when he took down Occasion #3: $1,500 Restrict Omaha Hello-Lo for $176,860. He additionally had three third-place finishes in WSOP match, most not too long ago in 2017 within the $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship for $104,416. All advised, Perry had $1,055,953 in WSOP earnings, which accounted for almost all his documented cashes relationship again to 2000 totaling $1,135,178 in response to the Hendon Mob.

Click on right here to learn extra on Friedman’s passing.

Two-Time WSOPC Ring Winner Justin Brown Passes Away at 38

Poker professional and two-time World Collection of Circuit (WSOP) ring winner Justin Brown handed away on February 2 from what his household says was a short battle with an aggressive type of most cancers.

Brown was simply shy of $400,000 in profession earnings, in response to The Hendon Mob. He was usually seen on stops of the Mid-States Poker Tour, Heartland Poker Tour, and WSOP Circuit occasions all through the Midwest — the place he received rings in Tunica and at Horseshoe Hammond in Indiana. Brown’s career-high rating was a win for $83,302 within the Hollywood Fall Traditional outdoors Cincinnati in 2011.

A graduate of Indiana College, Brown earned a Bachelor of Arts diploma in Historical past earlier than his ardour for statistics led him to a profession in skilled poker. Exterior of poker, he loved journey, sports activities, and even mushroom searching. He’s survived by his Mom, Teresa; his father, Gregory; and siblings James, Jeremy, and Katelyn.

The poker world expressed their condolences together with his good friend Ari Engel, who advised PokerNews: “Justin liked his household and he and his brother Jeremy have been as shut as I’ve ever seen brothers be. He was additionally an incredible and dependable friend- each to human mates and his beloved canine Clyde. I’ll at all times have fond reminiscences of the summers we stayed collectively in Vegas and hanging out at varied minor league stops all through the years. Whereas I’m devastated at shedding my good friend, I really feel so honored to have identified such an exquisite individual. You might be and will probably be missed Jbrown.”

Click on right here to learn extra about Brown’s passing.

Malaysian Excessive-Stakes Poker Participant Kok Weng Beh Passes Away at 42

In February, Malaysia’s Kok Weng Beh, a high-stakes poker participant who amassed a whole lot of hundreds in match earnings, handed away on the age of 42.

On the morning of Feb. 16, Triton Poker shared the information of Beh’s dying on social media, noting that his “legacy lives on within the playing cards and neighborhood (he) helped form.” In gentle of Beh’s dying, Triton supplied a tribute to the Malaysian poker participant’s “profound affect on our poker neighborhood.”

“Wayne’s legacy, deeply woven into the essence of poker right this moment, evokes us to proceed his spirit of camaraderie and excellence,” Triton wrote on X. “Our ideas are along with his household throughout this difficult time.”

Beh’s first poker match money got here in November 2010 from a deep run on the Macau Poker Cup Championship, a sequence he would proceed grinding within the following years, in response to The Hendon Mob.

By the late 2010s, Beh had moved up stakes and primarily performed excessive curler occasions, together with on the Triton Poker Tremendous Excessive Curler Collection.

Click on right here to be taught extra about Beh’s passing.

Florida Poker Participant Ryan Estrada Passes Away

In March, the poker neighborhood not too long ago obtained the unhappy information that Florida poker participant and World Collection of Poker (WSOP) Circuit Ring winner Ryan Estrada handed away unexpectedly in a motorbike accident.

Estrada was a grinder from Dawn, FL who was energetic within the Florida poker neighborhood and earned $316,969 in dwell earnings since his first money in February 2021 in response to the Hendon Mob.

Fellow Florida poker participant Matthew Sonzogi shared information of Estrada’s dying on X, writing that he was “completely sick to my abdomen” and calling Estrada “one of many nicest youngsters I met in Florida.”

Estrada’s first poker money sport within the type of a victory as he took down a $100 Survivor occasion at Seminole On line casino Coconut Creek for $500.

It was an indication of issues to return for Estrada as he went on to win tournaments all through Florida, together with a Seminole New Years Collection $200 occasion ($23,000), a WPT Seminole Arduous Rock Poker Showdown $400 occasion ($6,080) and a Pompano Isle On line casino $250 occasion ($6,000).

One other profession spotlight got here in October 2023 when he took down a $400 Massive 30k occasion at WSOPC Pompano Seashore for $15,514 and a Circuit ring. The identical month, he earned his largest money from a runner-up end within the SHR Hollywood Anniversary Massive Slick Particular for $30,935.

Learn extra on Estrada right here.

Poker Corridor of Famer Crandell Addington Passes Away at 85

In April, Crandell Addington, a legendary Texas poker professional, handed away at age 85.

The Poker Corridor of Famer cashed 4 instances within the World Collection of Poker (WSOP) Principal Occasion — 3 times within the Nineteen Seventies — together with runner-up finishes to Johnny Moss (1974), Doyle Brunson (1976), and Bobby Baldwin (1978).

Addington, born June 2, 1938, in Graham, Texas, handed awayon April 14, 2024. He competed within the first-ever World Collection of Poker in 1970 towards Brunson, Moss, Amarillo Slim, Puggy Pearson, Sailor Roberts, and Carl Cannon. Again then, poker’s world championship occasion was tiny and in its infancy, and the winner — Moss — was decided by a vote.

The late poker legend nonetheless holds the document for many WSOP Principal Occasion remaining desk appearances with seven. His final WSOP money got here within the 1989 Principal Occasion, a Thirty sixth-place end for $7,500.

Addington was one of many lone remaining Texas street gamblers from the Sixties and Nineteen Seventies. He got here up in poker competing towards the likes of Brunson, Moss, and Amarillo Slim, all Texans, and fellow Poker Corridor of Famers. In 2005, Addington joined the crew within the HOF, and was inducted alongside Jack Binion.

Click on right here to be taught extra about one of many true legends of poker.

Music Icon, Two-Time WSOP Bracelet Winner Steve Albini Passes at 61

In early Could, Steve Albini, a legendary music determine and a two-time World Collection of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner, handed away of a coronary heart assault on Tuesday at 61.

A self-described audio engineer, Albini helped pioneer noise rock within the Eighties along with his band Massive Black and later produced a number of the most essential albums in different rock historical past. Music retailers together with Pitchfork and Rolling Stone first reported his dying, which was confirmed by Albini’s Electrical Audio Recording in Chicago.

Albini is finest identified for producing Nirvana’s remaining 1993 album In Utero and in addition labored with different artists together with the Pixies, PJ Harvey, Slint, Low and The Breeders. Later in his profession, he labored with mainstream giants like Jimmy Web page and Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin.

Albini was additionally a passionate poker fanatic — notably shining in combined video games — and usually performed on the WSOP in Las Vegas.

In 2018, he took down a $1,500 Stud occasion for $105,629 and his first bracelet, a feat he adopted up on 4 years later with a $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. victory value $196,089.

Try PokerNews function article remembering Albini right here!

Northern California Poker Legend Phil Hawkins Passes Away

In Could, PokerNews discovered that Phil Hawkins, a longtime poker participant and former cardroom proprietor from Northern California, has handed away.

Within the late Nineties and early 2000s, the late NorCal poker legend owned the Sellers Selection Cardroom in Auburn, California. He additionally had success as each a match and money sport participant and left an enduring impression on the neighborhood.

Years in the past, Hawkins offered his poker site, and the brand new proprietor modified the title to Deuces Wild. The sale did not go nicely for both get together because the Deuces Wild proprietor had his license revoked and bthe usiness closed.

Hawkins would go on to co-own the Atwood Liquor & Deli. However his true ardour was poker, a sport he started taking part in lengthy earlier than the Chris Moneymaker increase period. In 2004, he earned his greatest dwell match rating — $100,102 — for taking down a $1,570 buy-in Omaha Hello/Lo occasion through the 5 Diamond World Poker Traditional at Bellagio in Las Vegas.

He racked up over $200,000 in dwell match earnings, in response to The Hendon Mob. The NorCal poker participant was most not too long ago identified to have performed at Thunder Valley On line casino Resort in Lincoln, CA, a city close to Sacramento.

Click on right here to be taught extra about Phil Hawkins.

The Hendon Mob Poker Legend Casey Kastle Passes Away

The poker world is mourning the lack of International Poker Awards winner Casey Kastle who handed away on Monday.

Kastle performed poker for many years, showing in main tournaments such because the World Collection of Poker (WSOP) and Aussie Thousands and thousands. The Slovenian poker professional, born in 1960, left an enduring impression on the poker neighborhood.

For years, Kastle held one of the spectacular information in poker — being the primary to gather 50 flags on The Hendon Mob. What which means is he had cashed in poker tournaments throughout 50 international locations. That is a mark few have ever or will ever obtain.

Kastle had nice success as a poker participant — $2.2 million in dwell match cashes — however he was equally revered amongst his friends past the felt. The late poker professional’s first recorded money got here in January 1998, a third-place end for $22,800 in a $540 buy-in no-limit maintain’em occasion in Las Vegas.

Since then, he is performed hundreds of tournaments and money video games internationally, successful tournaments in 13 totally different international locations, one other uncommon feat. Kastle’s largest money occurred in 2008 — $137,985 — when he took second place in a $1,500 buy-in pot-limit Omaha occasion on the World Collection of Poker, the closest he got here to successful a bracelet.

Kastle has lengthy been identified for his The Hendon Mob document, and it grew to become a part of who he was inside the poker neighborhood. The accomplishment was lastly acknowledged internationally in 2024 when he obtained the Hendon Mob Award on the International Poker Awards ceremony in Las Vegas.

Be taught extra about Casey Kastle right here.

Mates, Household Mourn Lack of Longtime Poker Participant Esther Rossi

Family and friends members of Esther Rossi, who handed away from most cancers April 1, gathered on Saturday in Las Vegas to rejoice her life.

The younger era of poker gamers may not be aware of Rossi, however those that adopted the sport within the pre-Chris Moneymaker increase period will definitely acknowledge the title. She was an achieved participant and beloved member of the poker neighborhood for years, and had many mates within the sport.

Rossi took a step away from the poker world at one level within the 2010s, however she recorded 13 cashes for over $200,000 on the World Collection of Poker (WSOP), her first being a runner-up end within the 1998 $500 Girls Restrict 7-Card Stud occasion for $10,625. In response to The Hendon Mob, she had $339,000 in dwell match cashes.

The late poker participant is the previous girlfriend of David “Chip” Reese, thought of by many one of many biggest poker gamers of all time. Reese, a three-time WSOP bracelet winner, handed away in 2007 at age 56.

Rossi grew up in Youngstown, Ohio, and discovered to play playing cards as a toddler thanks in no small half to her father, Armando “Spare” Rossi, who performed playing cards all his life. In 1987, she moved to Las Vegas.

Learn extra about Rossi and her profession right here.

WSOP Bracelet Winner Matthew Parry Unexpectedly Passes Away

The poker world obtained stunning information in June that World Collection of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner Matthew Parry, who was per week faraway from successful a Wynn Summer season Traditional title, handed away unexpectedly. The information was shared by Parry’s household through the next message on his Fb account:

It’s with crushing unhappiness that we’re letting mates of Matt’s and our household know that Matt handed away on Saturday, June 15. As a lot of you might be conscious, he had 2 true passions – chess and poker. Fortunately, he was in Las Vegas attending the WSOP doing what he liked when he died. Final 12 months, he fulfilled his dream when he received his first bracelet. He’s deeply and perpetually missed. At the moment, preparations are being made and we’ll use FB and e-mail to speak within the occasion you wish to be part of us in celebrating his life. Please preserve our Matt in your prayers.

Parry, a Scholastic Nationwide Champ at chess, hailed from New York the place he graduated from Fairport Excessive College and studied on the College of Buffalo. He discovered to play poker with mates and on-line.

He had $1,908,422 in lifetime match earnings in response to the Hendon Mob together with a career-best $480,122 for successful the 2023 World Collection of Poker (WSOP) Occasion #82: $3,000 Pot-Restrict Omaha 6-Handed for a gold bracelet. The win got here three years after he almost received a web-based bracelet ending runner-up to Nick Guagenti within the 2020 WSOP.com On-line Occasion #29: $2,000 NLH Deepstack.

Parry, who as soon as advised PokerNews he was “largely a money sport participant,” was off to an excellent begin this summer time ending eleventh within the 2024 WSOP Occasion #18: $1,500 Pot-Restrict Omaha for $19,048, after which two days later successful the Wynn Summer season Traditional $2,200 Pot-Restrict Omaha for $106,645.

For extra on Parry and his poker profession, click on right here.

WPT at Sea’s Kurt McPhail Passes Away Unexpectedly

The poker world obtained the unhappy information on Wednesday that Kurt McPhail, a long-time member of the World Poker Tour (WPT) household who based the WPT League again in 2007 and extra not too long ago operated the WPT at Sea Poker Room on Virgin Voyages, handed away unexpectedly.

McPhail, who lived in Mulvane, Kansas however was simply as prone to be crusing the excessive seas over the previous 12 months, studied at Fort Hays State College and has been married to Kathy McPhail since November 11, 1998.

The WPT launched the next assertion on social media:

“RIP Kurt. You gave me a few of my finest experiences in life. I do know you’re having fun with your everlasting cruise, save a spot for all of us. Love you man,” Tommy Stokes wrote on social media.

Learn extra about McPhail’s contributions to the WPT right here.

Combined Sport Fanatic Mark Dickstein Passes Away

The poker world obtained unhappy information in August as information surfaced that poker participant Mark Dickstein, a famous combined sport fanatic, had handed away.

The information was shared by Ari Engel on social media:

“Unhappy information to report: my good friend Mark B. Dickstein has handed away. Lots of you particularly combined sport gamers could have performed with him over time. I solely grew to become mates with him during the last 12 months when he was already sick however even in that quick time we had some actually attention-grabbing talks – he had a really totally different perspective to many points – which made for some lengthy (and infrequently heated) forwards and backwards and plenty of prop bets. I’ll particularly keep in mind how he made plenty of very beneficiant charitable donations that nobody knew about. I’ll miss you Mark- relaxation in peace my good friend. Baruch Dayan Haemet”

Dickstein had $775,874 in lifetime earnings relationship again to 2004 in response to the Hendon Mob. That included a career-best rating of $184,428 for ending third within the 2006 WSOP $10,000 Pot-Restrict Omaha occasion, which was received by Lee Watkinson. Extra not too long ago, Dickstein had seven cashes this summer time on the 2024 WSOP together with twenty sixth in Occasion #32: $1,500 Limi Seven Card Stud.

Exterior of poker, Dickstein had made a reputation for himself within the early days of hedge funds. Alongside his enterprise associate, David Brail, Dickstein constructed the agency Dickstein Companions, which was one of many preeminent hedge funds of the time with experience in merger arbitrage and chapter investing. Dickstein was so distinguished on the time that he was even profiled within the New York Occasions again in 1994.

Learn extra about Dickstein right here.

Matt Snook Passes Away One Month After Enjoying Principal Occasion

Matt Snook, who crossed off a bucket checklist merchandise of taking part in within the World Collection of Poker (WSOP) this summer time, handed away a month later in Agusut after a year-long battle with most cancers.

The Kansas Metropolis resident and two-time “The Voice” contestant served as an inspiration when he entered the 2024 WSOP Principal Occasion in July. He was not solely terminally ailing on the time however wasn’t feeling very nicely when he sat right down to play. PokerNews caught up with him for a chat earlier than the Day 1d session started, and he defined why he traveled midway throughout the nation to play within the largest buy-in match of his life.

“I had some mates get collectively, they usually mainly helped me out,” Snook mentioned of getting into the world championship occasion. “It is the good match on the planet, and I like it.”

Snook, a rustic music singer, mentioned final month that he was “identified with a uncommon type of kidney most cancers on January third,” and referred to his look within the Principal Occasion as his “final hoorah.” He knew he had restricted time as a consequence of his battle with sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma (sRCC), a uncommon, aggressive type of kidney most cancers that may have an effect on different elements of the physique. However he was nonetheless in good spirits getting into the $10,000 buy-in match.

“I’ve lived such a blessed life, I really feel good right this moment, had a tricky evening final evening, and I am planning on making an attempt to work by means of what I’ve set to work by means of,” he mentioned. “Poker gamers know that poker is a grind and life is a grind. However I do not need anyone feeling sorry for me. I do not need any empathy. I’ve simply lived a blessed life and I am glad to be right here.”

Snook mentioned these along with his sickness sometimes dwell for 6-12 months, however he believed he grew to become ailing a number of months earlier than seeing a health care provider. The musician who appeared on Season 8 of “The Voice,” a singing actuality tv competitors present, was largely a money sport participant in Kansas Metropolis. However he additionally loved tournaments from time to time and had a ardour for the RunGood Poker Collection (RGPS).

Be taught extra about Snook and his attention-grabbing life right here.

New Jersey Poker Participant Dan Sewnig Passes Away at 33

On-line poker participant and Circuit ring winner Dan Sewnig handed away on August 13 on the age of 33.

Sewnig, who performed underneath the handles “mj23style” and “RedsoxNets5”, amassed over 1,000,000 in on-line earnings and was acknowledged as top-of-the-line on-line poker gamers in New Jersey.

Sewnig’s obituary notes that he “discovered success as a self-employed skilled within the poker world” and in addition states he “excelled in athletics” and “liked taking part in all forms of video games, in addition to working, mountaineering, nature walks, and each taking part in and watching basketball.”

PokerNews profiled Sewnig in 2020, noting that he discovered poker from his cousin when he was 11 and was taking part in $5 sit and gos along with his fellow seventh-graders when Chris Moneymaker received the 2003 Principal Occasion.

“I am going to at all times keep in mind our good friend’s mother requested us who we thought was going to win,” he advised PokerNews. “There have been about 50 gamers left within the TV protection and Ivey and Farha have been the favored solutions. I mentioned, ‘I do not know, I’ve obtained an excellent feeling about that man Moneymaker.’ She gave me a have a look at the time that I assumed meant she thought I used to be silly. I had no thought on the time that these exhibits have been prerecorded and she or he already knew that he had gone on to win!”

Sewnig graduated from Ramapo School of New Jersey, the place he ran cross nation, with a level in math and a focus in schooling. He was on observe to develop into a instructor earlier than testing the waters of the newly regulated on-line poker market in New Jersey.

Be taught extra about Sewnig and his poker profession right here.

Alexander Hill Passes from Most cancers Days After Shedding Son-in-Regulation

The poker neighborhood obtained unhappy information in August that Wisconsin’s Alexander Hill, who remaining tabled the World Collection of Poker (WSOP) Seniors Occasion two years in the past, died from most cancers.

“The poker neighborhood and his poker buddies meant so, a lot to him,” Hill’s son, Alex Kestrel, wrote in a social media submit.

Hill’s passing was particularly tragic for his household as only a few days earlier his son-in-law, Nic Haug, handed away unexpectedly.

Hill notched his first match money in 2017 ending in second place within the MSPT Milwaukee for $60,000. He went on to amass $294,943 in lifetime match earnings in response to the Hendon Mob.

In September 2022, Hill topped a 283-entry area to win the WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Council Bluffs Occasion #9: $400 Monster Stack for $20,375 and a gold ring. Hill had the most important rating of his profession when he positioned ninth within the 2022 WSOP Occasion 47: $1,000 Seniors Championship for $67,471.

Learn extra about Alexander Hill right here.

The poker world obtained unhappy information this previous weekend when it was revealed that longtime poker media veteran Marty Derbyshire, 52, handed away unexpectedly from Melioidosis, also referred to as Whitmore’s illness, an unusual bacterial an infection.

Initially from Vancouver, British Columbia, Derbyshire relocated to Thailand a number of years in the past the place he married his spouse. Derbyshire labored for a lot of totally different retailers all through his profession together with PokerLisitings and PokerNews the place he was each a dwell reporter at stops all over the world in addition to a go-to scribe for articles.

Former PokerNews Editor-in-Chief Matthew Parvis supplied:

“Through the 10 years that I used to be lucky sufficient to work within the poker business, I can’t consider too many individuals who have been extra partaking to work with Marty Derbyshire. He had intuition, creativity, wit, and a knack for being daring and unafraid along with his opinions. There have been greater than a handful of instances that his work would get him and me in a little bit of sizzling water, and looking out again I’m so proud to have backed him to talk his thoughts and problem the established order of a blossoming business. Marty had such a ardour for poker and a ardour for all times. He will probably be missed and I’ll look again at our relationship with nothing however fondness.”

Be taught extra about Derbyshire’s poker media profession right here.

The poker neighborhood obtained unhappy information in early September when phrase surfaced that Jason “Clozer” Kapoor, a widely known participant from each the Michigan poker neighborhood and the Midwest circuit, ended his personal life at 29 years outdated.

Born December 21, 1994, Kapoor left residence when he was simply 14 years outdated and labored 70 hours per week at a Dunkin Donuts throughout his teenage years. He started promoting automobiles earlier than finally turning to poker full-time in 2019. Initially from Michigan, Kapoor relocated and constructed a house in Thailand on the finish of 2022, usually sharing footage and movies of his adventures on social media.

Whereas primarily a web-based and money sport participant, Kapoor had $153,355 in lifetime earnings in response to The Hendon Mob. That included a career-high $41,721 for ending third within the 2022 Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) US Poker Championship. Kapoor held a dominant chip lead throughout three-handed play and it appeared like he was going to be the champion, however he then proceeded to lose 4 shut all-in situations to fall to eventual champ Ken Baime.

Kapoor, who had misplaced his mom two years earlier, discovered whereas competing in that match that fellow poker participant and his finest good friend of 15 years, Ray Malone III, was killed by a drunk driver

“He devoted what could be his greatest lifetime rating to him when he ended that match in third place,” mentioned Kapoor’s good friend and poker reporter Liam Gannon. “He wore his coronary heart on his sleeve and was only a very no-bullshit sort of man. One of the crucial infectious smiles in poker.”

See poker neighborhood reactions to Kapoor’s passing right here.

Evansville Sports activities Legend Clint Keown Passes Away in Vehicle Accident

Clinton Keown from Evansville, Indiana, handed away on September 22 in an vehicle accident. A famend athlete for each basketball and baseball, Keown was additionally a preferred poker participant locally.

Keown, born February 25, 1980, had $171,271 in lifetime earnings in response to the Hendon Mob, which included a career-high $36,480 for ending ninth within the 2005 World Collection of Poker (WSOP) Circuit $10,000 Championship Occasion at Horseshoe Southern Indiana.

As phrase of Keown’s passing unfold, a number of gamers supplied their condolences on social media.

“The poker world misplaced one of many biggest real gamblers to ever guess on themselves to a deadly automobile accident,” wrote Michael Laake. “He was each little bit of the following era’s Huck Seed. Absolute grasp and legend of the sport.”

Be taught extra about Clint Keown right here.

Legendary Gambler Archie Karas Passes Away

In September, PokerNews discovered that famed gambler and avid poker participant Archie Karas has handed away at age 73.

Anargyros Karabourniotis, his beginning title, famously went on a heater merely known as “The Run” in December 1992 when he drove to Las Vegas with simply $50 in his pocket and would later flip that, together with a $10,000 mortgage, into $50 million earlier than giving all of it again a number of years later. He claims to have gambled more cash in casinos than anybody in historical past.

Karas was born on Nov. 1, 1950, in Greece. He’d later tackle the moniker “The Greek,” and has been in comparison with one other high-stakes legendary gambler, Nick the Greek, who handed away over 60 years in the past.

Karas, a Nevada resident who additionally lived in Los Angeles and Portland in his early grownup days, grew up in poverty however would finally gamble his method to a extra profitable life-style. He began off his skilled profession ready tables in eating places earlier than taking on pool as a facet hustle.

The pool hustle paid greater than he’d make ready tables. However finally, the prepared opposition to face him on the pool desk dried out. That’s when he took up poker and claimed to have constructed up a bankroll of $2 million within the early Nineties. However poker legends on the time resembling Doyle Brunson and Chip Reese weren’t overly impressed along with his sport. They’d even give Karas a handicap simply to get him within the sport.

Karas would lose his bankroll by December 1992, apart from $50, which he took with him to Las Vegas the place he satisfied a poker participant to provide him a $10,000 mortgage. He spun that cash as much as $30,000 taking part in high-stakes razz, after which paid again his backer.

Utilizing that cash to proceed playing, he received a whole lot of hundreds of {dollars} in pool halls round city. He then took on a high-stakes participant generally known as “Mr. X” at Binion’s Horseshoe, the unique residence of the World Collection of Poker (WSOP). Karas received a number of million towards Mr. X, and had reportedly constructed a bankroll over $7 million inside a number of months earlier than shedding all of it.

Examine outPokerNews’ full obituary on Karas right here.

Remembering Ladies’s Poker Advocate Lori Geer Smith

Lori Geer Smith (March 12, 1959 – November 7, 2024) handed away from most cancers at her residence in Chico, Texas.

Lupe Soto, founding father of the Ladies in Poker Corridor of Fame, shared the information on the Girls Worldwide Poker Collection (LIPS) web page:

“Heaven has gained an angel… Lori Geer Smith who’s a good friend to so a lot of our poker sisterhood has handed and we’ll miss her deeply. Our hearts are hurting however none greater than her candy household. Our prayers and love are with all of them. Fly excessive Lori… seat open.”

Smith had $50,149 in lifetime earnings relationship again to 2010 in response to the Hendon Mob, which included a career-high $10,449 for ending ninth within the 2013 Choctaw Fall Poker Traditional $1,100 Championship Occasion.

Smith’s obituary acknowledged: “Lori married Ronnie Smith on July 1, 1981. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church, the Ed Henry Stewart Charitable Basis, and the Ladies’s Poker Affiliation. Lori loved touring along with her husband on cruises. However most of all Lori (Marmie) liked spending time along with her household and mates. She will probably be tremendously missed.”

Learn extra about Smith’s ladies initiative efforts right here.

PR & Media Supervisor for PokerNews, Podcast host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.