Doyle Brunson’s Passing in the Mainstream Media

It’s not very common that poker news breaks the barrier of our own bubble and leaks into the mainstream media. This is usually reserved for some scandals or big, multi-million-dollar wins. But if anything deserves an article outside of the poker world, it’s the loss of Doyle Brunson, the biggest poker legend.

Let’s have a look at what news sites wrote about The Godfather of Poker and how he was portrayed in mainstream media.

The New York Times: Doyle Brunson, Poker Champion Known as ‘Texas Dolly,’ Dies at 89

Doyle Brunson, a champion poker player who, in a long, lucrative and colorful career with a deck of cards, won 10 World Series of Poker events, including two back-to-back titles, and influenced countless players with his definitive guide to Texas hold ’em and other games, died on Sunday in Las Vegas. He was 89.  

Mr. Brunson, whose career in poker began in illegal games in the back rooms of Texas bars, won the World Series of Poker main event, the sport’s most coveted prize, in 1976 and 1977. His total tournament winnings exceeded $6 million.

Read more here.

CNN: Doyle Brunson: ‘The Godfather of Poker’ has died aged 89

Doyle Brunson, dubbed ‘The Godfather of Poker,’ has died at the age of 89.

Rarely seen without his cowboy hat, Brunson was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 1988 and later become an ambassador of the game.

As well as being one of the world’s most prominent poker players, Brunson also wrote the famous book ‘Super/System,” which is still used today by players learning game strategy.

Read more here.

The Washington Post: Doyle Brunson, pistol-carrying poker legend who won millions, dies at 89

Doyle Brunson, a pistol-packing poker legend nicknamed “Texas Dolly” who dominated high-stakes games for 70 years, first in smoky backrooms where gunfire occasionally erupted and then later (and legally) on cable television at the World Series of Poker, died on May 14 at a hospital in Las Vegas. He was 89.

The arc of Mr. Brunson’s career parallels poker’s history in America, from illicitly out of sight to mainstream entertainment.
Mr. Brunson always packed a pistol. (Asked if he had ever used it, he answered, “No comment.”) One night, someone interrupted a game, put a loaded gun to a player’s head and fired. Mr. Brunson took off with his chips and hid in a creek.

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BBC: ‘Godfather of Poker’ Doyle Brunson dies aged 89

Doyle Brunson, the cowboy hat enthusiast known to poker fans as the “Godfather of Poker”, has died aged 89.
Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988, he became an ambassador for poker. Mr Brunson took up professional poker after a knee injury ended his college basketball career in his home state.

After relocating to Las Vegas, he quickly became a mainstay of the city’s high-stakes poker scene. He was the first American to win $1m (£800,000) in poker tournaments and accumulated more than $6m (£4.8m) in live tournament earnings.

Read more here.

Fox News: Poker legend Doyle Brunson dead at 89

Doyle Brunson, a 10-time World Series of Poker champion who helped grow the popularity of the card game, died Sunday, according to his agent Brian Balsbaugh. He was 89.

Brunson was known as the “Godfather of Poker” and “Texas Dolly” during his heyday. His World Series of Poker wins are only second to Phil Helmuth’s 16 championships. He also captured world championships in 1976 and 1977 and was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 1988.
 
He was the first to win $1 million in poker tournaments. In his final tournament in 2018, he made the final table and finished in sixth place.

Read more here.

The Guardian: Doyle Brunson, the ‘Godfather of Poker’, dies at age of 89

Doyle Brunson, one of the most influential poker players of all time and twice world champion, died on Sunday at the age of 89.
Brunson started playing seriously in Fort Worth, Texas, where he said the game was far tougher than the glossy, televised tournaments that are prevalent today.

He wrote Super System in 1979, one of the first books to delve into poker strategy. It created a lasting impact that professional and casual players used to improve their performances.

Read more here.

ESPN: Doyle Brunson, 10-time World Series of Poker champion, dies at age 89

Brunson, known as “Texas Dolly” and the “Godfather of Poker,” was a member of the Poker Hall of Fame, inducted in 1988 when he was age 54.

He was rarely seen without his cowboy hat and a big smile, a look that made him stand out even more during the poker boom of the early 2000s. As he aged, his WSOP main event elimination each year became a memorable moment, as it was announced to all the players in the tournament. They rose from their chairs to offer a standing ovation to the legend as he exited the room. His last WSOP cash came in 2018, when he made the final table in the $10,000 2-7 lowball event.

Read more here.

Reuters: ‘The Godfather of Poker’ Doyle Brunson dies at 89

Doyle Brunson, known as the “Godfather of Poker” for his hard-earned legacy in the game, died aged 89 in Las Vegas on Sunday.
Brunson, won 10 World Series of Poker (WSOP) tournaments — second only to Phil Hellmuth’s 16. Dubbed “Texas Dolly”, the poker star announced his retirement from tournament poker in 2018.

One of the most prominent figures in American poker, Brunson is also known for writing Super/System, a famous book on poker strategy. The book includes his tips on important poker strategies such as controlling emotions and watching competitors play to predict their next moves.

Read more here.