Stu Ungar

Stu Ungar (September 8, 1953 - November 22, 1998) is the only three-time World Series of Poker Champion winning it in 1980, 1981, and 1997. His win in 1997 is considered particularly remarkable as a comeback after 16 years, during much of which time he was away from championship poker and addicted to cocaine. Ungar is still regarded by many poker insiders as the greatest pure talent ever to play the game; in his life, he is estimated to have won over $30 million at the poker table. However, he squandered virtually all of his winnings on drugs and other forms of gambling. His addiction took such a physical toll on him that in a recent ESPN piece on Ungar, many of his friends and fellow competitors said that they thought that Ungar would not live to see his 40th birthday. In the same piece, one friend said that the only thing that kept him alive was his determination to see his daughter Stefanie grow up. In 1997, Ungar was deeply in debt, but received the $10,000 buy-in from close friend Billy Baxter. Ungar clearly showed physical damage from his years of addiction, most notably to his nasal membranes. However, he showed that his mental capacities were still present. During the tournament, he kept a picture of Stefanie in his wallet, and regularly called her with updates on his progress. After his win, which was taped for future broadcast by ESPN, he showed the picture of his daughter to the camera, and dedicated his win to her. He and Baxter split the $1 million first prize 50-50. By the following year, he was broke yet again. Baxter again offered to pay his entry fee to the main event, but 10 minutes before play started, Ungar told Baxter he was tired and didn't feel like playing. Seven months after the 1998 WSOP, Ungar was found dead in a Las Vegas motel room with $800 to his name. An autopsy showed traces of drugs in his system, but not enough to have directly caused his death. The medical examiner concluded that he had died of a heart condition brought on by his years of drug abuse.