1953 - 1998

Three Time Champion of the World Series of Poker

It is with deep sadness that I report to the RGP community the untimely death of STU UNGAR, who was found dead in a Las Vegas hotel room today -- Sunday, November 22nd, 1998.

"STUEY," as he was called by those who knew him, was perhaps best known for winning three poker World Championships (in 1980, 1981, and 1997). In addition, STUEY was widely-acknowledged as the world's best gin player, and enjoyed an unprecendented reputation as a brilliant gambling mind.

STUEY is survived by his daughter, Stefanie, and many friends inside and outside the world of poker. He will be missed by us all.

Nolan Dalla

On 23 Nov 1998, in rec.gambling.poker jhartz@jps.net (John Hartzell) wrote:

It is sad when someone blessed with the gift of greatness treats that blessing with less respect than it deserves. My condolences to his family and friends, especially those, like Mike Sexton and Bob Stupak, who went well out of their way to help him overcome his dependency problems. To those who never went down the path of addiction it is impossible to comprehend the attraction it holds for the victim.

I hope that Stu finds the peace and contentment that he lacked in his brief stay on earth. He rose above the grasp of ordinary strivers on many occasions, wresting the laurels of victory through the force of his talent; let us remember these times rather than the ones where he gave in to the temptations of his torment. Rest in peace.

On 24 Nov 1998, in rec.gambling.poker J10suited@poker.org (J10Suited) wrote:

My SINCERE condolences to his friends and family. This is truly a sad day for those who see the artistry in poker, and how this man was able to bring poker to a whole different level beyond mathematics and structure.

I did not know Stu Unger, but I was able to watch him play many years ago, when I didn't know anyone or anything about the world of poker. It was During Binion's WSOP, I think, just me as a curious teenager watching the "big money" game (it was a side game, not an event). Even at my young age, I could tell he was the person most feared at that table, and was winning the most money it seemed. I remember his face clearly because he seemed so young, not much older than myself, yet had no fear of playing for huge stakes. (of course, he was much older, he just seemed young because he was the smallest person at the table.) I couldn't believe what I was seeing, a "teenager" who had as much respect as all those "texas millionaires" (again, I didn't know anything about the world of poker). It was the first time I thought that I wanted to be a pro poker player more than anything else in the world.

It could have been this that was one of the stronger images that pushed me towards learning and coming to love poker. Of course, there were many other factors, and I definitely did not know who he was till years later, when Card Player had a feature on him. Nevertheless, I hope my small example shows that he probably influenced poker and people in many ways, much more than his formal legend documents.

Mr. Unger, don't break the members of the afterlife too quickly. Rest in Peace.

J10Suited

On 24 Nov 1998, in rec.gambling.poker haikuslam@aol.com (Haikuslam) wrote:

Stuey and The Wolf - Part I

I guess this is a story about death and redemption, about the different paths people take. One is dead and the other is on the long road back.

I first met Stuey around 1982 when he was the king of the world. I always got along with him and though most of the stories about him being this and that, and though I agreed with most of them, I always found him to be funny and brilliant. We were never real close, but around the table we had more than a few talks.

He scared me. Playing against Stuey in a big bet game, especially if it was shorthanded, was suicide. I think this is the common consensus, that shorthanded, he was the best player in the world, ever.

A couple of years later in Las Vegas I met The Wolf. Through Stuey, in a round about way. One day, I asked Stuey if he feared anyone in poker. In a rare streak of humility, he mentioned that not in no limit or pot limit, but in stud there were a couple and in limit hold'em a couple more. Stuey was never keen on ring games. They cramped his style. As I was, and am, a hold'em player, I asked him who in limit hold'em he admired. He looked around the room and said, "The Wolf". I had no idea who he was talking about. I was playing thirty-sixty in the room and knew all the players. "No.", Stuey said, "Over there." He was pointing to the three-six game. I thought it was a joke.

Stuey and The Wolf - Part II

His name was Peter Wolf and sometimes he played high and sometimes not. The word was that he was backed by some heavy people. He was from New York and knew Stuey from back there. He was some sort of chess whiz who made money in speed chess.

Was he good? He had really long hair and a beard and wore sunglasses all the time. Quiet and deadly. As I got to know him at the table, I thought this guy has a gift. He was probably the most aggressive limit player in Vegas at the time. He was, I thought, a rising star. Can't miss. Though he played like Stuey, their styles were as very different as the games they played. It seemed to me that The Wolf never lost. I asked Stuey about it and he said that when he wanted to, The Wolf would always get the money in the end.
When he wanted to?

Stuey and The Wolf - The End

The Wolf got sick. He lost his backing . He disappeard. Another casualty of drugs or whatever. I figured he went broke. I would have asked Stuey, but he was facing his own demons. Besides, The Wolf played my game. And, also, he was better than me.

i went to California in 1988 to start playing there. Times were good and The Wolf was no where in sight. Until four years later. He walked in with a gorgeous girl on his arm and played forty limit and took the game for about three large. He was back. And with a new nickname. He was now Grey Wolf or just Grey. And he had changed. He didn't remember me. He hadn't talked to Stuey in years. It was apparent that he had developed some memory loss. Nothing more was revealed.

He struggled. No longer backed. He seemed to change his game every day. Good players thought he was a live one or just lucky. I think the feeling was that, in general, he was a good amateur who could go on tilt and then you would get him. In a way, I felt bad for him. I never said much about how good he once was. I just waited.

As I said, his game would change. He was trying, like the rest of the Vegas players, to make sense of the California game and style. Would he succeed?

The last time I saw Stuey was at the Commerce playing in a hundred limit omaha eight or better game and Grey was playing eighty limit hold'em. Who put who in what game is a mystery. I saw them talk only once and it made me think. Stuey was famous. The Wolf , now Grey, was a shadowy figure who most could not remember or would give him his due.

The wolf plays regularly now. The demons beaten. The gorgeous girls are gone. And the game is starting to come around. Like Stuey, his game was never gone, Just not there on a regular basis. But he is starting to dominate. Does he still get the money? When he wants too. Which seems to be every day now. He has a style that is a perfect merger of Vegas and California. Live, aggressive, gambling and solid. As one player once said to him, "I never know what you have."

So, Stuey, rest in peace. You were, without a doubt, the best high limit player in the world. Whatever it was that Grey did to get back, I wished you had. Though your friendship with each other is a mystery as Grey says little about it. I know that he is in Las Vegas this week. I wish I knew more.

Haikuslam

[ Note: Haikuslam also wrote: Poker and Vegas Circa 1980 ]

On Nov 24, 1998, ratso444@earthlink.net (ratso444) wrote:

Thanks for a great story.

Somebody once said of Mike Tyson, "Nobody can beat Tyson. Only Tyson can beat Tyson," and I think that applied to Stu Ungar more than anyone I ever knew.

In the meantime, I'm feeling a lot older today since a 70s icon (and my contemporary) just passed into oblivion...

On Nov 25, 1998, in rec.gambling.poker wsop97@aol.com (Jim Albrecht) wrote:

The first time I saw Stu Ungar he was already a two-time world champion. I had heard that he was perhaps the best gin rummy player in the world, had been backed by the mob, and was in Vegas to learn a new game - poker - because his reputation in gin rummy was so well known that he couldn't get a game.

It was the 1984 WSOP and I was the day shift supervisor. I was doing the table drop on the hour when I came to a no-limit hold'em game where I knew all the players. The pot was down to Doyle Brunson and Stu Ungar. Doyle had made a monster bet at the pot and Stu was thinking long. He lifted his hand for another look, I saw from behind -- two deuces. The board showed five overcards including two paints. He called. It was good for a pot big enough to buy a house Wayne Newton would be happy with.

This was my introduction to a player I followed throughout my career. I honestly do not believe I have ever seen a more talented no-limit player or a more disturbed life, all contained in one person.

Judge him on any priority you will, but give him credit for his talent, and admit that we humans are complex beyond comprehension, unless we have walked the mile.

A fan of his talent,
Disturbed by his tendancies,
And not wanting to be judged by those who have not walked a mile in my shoes.

Jim Albrecht

On 25 Nov 1998, in rec.gambling.poker b529529@aol.com (Jim Boyd) wrote:

It was a sad day for poker when Stu Unger passed away. His personal problems consumed a great poker talent the likes of which I have never seen.

The first time I had a chance to play with Unger was a $2,000 buy-in NL Holdem at the 1989 WSOP. He had a special talent for reading hands and players that was unbelievable. Unger totally dominated the table. I was lucky to get away from Unger when the table broke and managed to get a respectable 9th place finish. Stu Unger was certainly a cut above the rest . Rest in Peace Stu.

Jim Boyd

On 28 Nov 1998 11:36:18 GMT, in rec.gambling.poker imthecapo@aol.com (Im TheCapo) wrote:

During the last World Series of poker, Bob Stupak, Mike Sexton and I had a drink and talked about Stu. Mike told us how he could barely talk, hadn't showered in weeks and how his fingers were burned black by a crack pipe.

We all agreed he didn't have long to live unless he got clean quick. We discussed several options like hiring a guard to stay outside his door at the horseshoe and turn away drug dealers. I wanted to flat out kidnap him and lock him in a room for a few weeks to dry out, but Mike and Bob quickly talked me out of this.

What finally happened? Bob agreed to pay off all of Stu's debts, stake him in tournaments, and give him walking around money. All Stu had to do in return was stay clean. To make sure, Bob did hire a guy to stay with Stu all the time and keep an eye on him.

Well, obviouslly the guy didn't do his job. Stu told him he was going to his daughter's birthday party and you all know the rest. I wish we had tried harder, but it's hard to help someone who won't help themself.

Another time Stu spent two weeks in El Paso with me and my family while he went through terrible withdrawals. Another time, Stu cleaned up, got staked and played poker at the Mirage with us for 6 months before falling off the wagon.

Stu really did want to kick drugs, but that was one monkey he couldn't keep off his back. I hope this will teach someone else a lesson and maybe his early death won't be totally in vain. Quitting drugs must be the hardest thing on the face of the Earth. I just thank God I never tried them.

What a waste! People talk about Stu's talent, but few knew how great it really was. He won the World Series the first two times he played, he only played a few more before taking a 15 year break, then he came back and won the very next WSOP!

Stu Unger was the only human being to win the World Series 3 times. I know you think I'm forgetting Johnny Moss, but guess what? I'm going to let you all in on a little secret. Johnny only won it twice. In the first WSOP, there was no $10,000 event. The players voted on who the best player was and they voted for Johnny Moss.

I mean no disrespect to Johnny, but I think it should be known so that Stu receives the credit that he is due. I played with every big name over the past ten years and without a doubt, when he was on his game, he was the best player I've ever seen. He taught me more about poker than any other individual in my life.

I've been sick to my stomach since I've heard the news. I hope you'll all join me in saying a prayer for God to have mercy on Stu's soul.

Todd Brunson

On 28 Nov 1998 13:02:47 GMT, in rec.gambling.poker sextontoc@aol.com (SextonTOC) wrote:

We buried Stu Ungar yesterday. I would like to thank all those who attended. It was a very nice service. I was a pall bearer and a speaker. It's a sad time for the poker world. We have lost our greatest gladiator. His achievements in poker are unsurpassed. The record speaks for itself. He was a three time world champion. He won ten No Limit Hold-em championship events in which the buy-in was at least $5,000. (To put that feat in perspective, the next two guys in line, Johnny Chan and T.J. Cloutier, have won only half that many.) There is only one man in history who won the championship event in both the WSOP and the Super Bowl of Poker (for years the second largest poker tourn.). That man was Stu Ungar. And he won them three times each!

Let's forgive Stuey for his weaknesses and his drug problems and remember him for what he was - the greatest player to ever grace the green felt.

Mike Sexton

On 28 Nov 1998, in rec.gambling.poker loukrieger@aol.com (Lou Krieger) wrote:

"Let's forgive Stuey for his weaknesses and his drug problems and remember him for what he was - the greatest player to ever grace the green felt."

Well said, Mike.

Keep flopping aces,

Lou Krieger

On Sun, 29 Nov 1998 13:19:10 EST OBrianMc@aol.com (Sean) wrote:

I am an alcoholic and a drug addict. I have been clean and sober for six years. I did not know Stu Ungar, but I know addiction all too well. Stu Ungar's rise from addiction to win the WSOP in 1997 was a triumph for recovering addicts everywhere. His death is equally a tragedy. I can only say, in tribute to him, that his death reminded me personally of how lucky I am and how continued sobriety is an everyday life and death issue. So if it means anything in the way of tribute, I can only say that when I heard the news of Mr. Ungar's death, I remembered how close I had come to that path and how lucky I had been to miss it. Rest In Peace.

Sean

On 30 Nov 1998, in rec.gambling.poker texdolly@aol.com (TEX DOLLY) wrote:

So Long Stu

When David Grey called and told me they had found Stu dead in a motel room, I had two strong feelings. The first was sorrow that such a tragic thing could happen to a close friend, but also I felt a sense of release because I knew how miserable his life had become.

I had a love-hate relationship with Stu. I've never hit anyone in 40 years of playing poker and I almost hit Stu at least 5 times, and me three times as big as him. He had a way of getting under people's skin - perhaps that contributed to his fine play at the table. He got the competitive juices flowing.

The Stu most people never knew was generous, warm hearted, had a great sense of humor, and his insight into what people were thinking was truly remarkable. That insight was perhaps the greatest gift a poker player can receive. He was a real joy to be around when away from gambling, drugs and alcohol.

Was he the best poker player I've played against? No, not in my top 10, but in No Limit Hold'em, tournament style, he was undoubtedly the best that ever lived. No one will ever be able to argue with his record.

Sailor Roberts, Jack Strauss, Jr., Whited, Ted Binion, Jimmy Doman, Bones Berland, Waterhole, Jim White, Many others and now Stu. I HATE DRUGS!!!

We leave Stu in God's hands. RIP my good buddy.

Doyle Brunson

On Mon, 30 Nov 1998, in rec.gambling.poker suelin@ix.netcom.com (Benny Lin) wrote:

Steuy

"The greatest tribute to the dead is not grief, but gratitude."
Thanks Stuey...see you soon at the no-limit game in the sky.

Benny Lin

In the Las Vegas Review-Journal on Dec 4, 1998 - Letters to the Editor

Ode to The Kid

Full article here.

Larry Grossman of Las Vegas

The writer hosts the local radio show, "You Can Bet On It."

On Sat, 13 Nov 1999 16:49:19 Chuck Gabbard wrote:

A Dealer's View of Stuey

   I first met Stu, I think it was in 1983 at Amarillo Slim's very first Super Bowl of Poker. I was dealing at what was then the High Sierra in Lake Tahoe. I had just come on shift and Stuey and Cowboy Wolford were going to play heads up. They put me in to start the game, and as the game progressed Stuey insisted that I be the only dealer for the duration of the game. I dealt to them for almost 7 hours. Stu won and asked me why I wasn't dealing the tourneys. He then recommended to the director that I be put in the tourney rotation. So I dealt tourneys for the rest of my tenure as a dealer. I'll never forget that.

   If you ask most dealers, myself included, Stuey was a pain in the ass to deal to. He was outright mean at times. In fact, at the second Super Bowl of Poker, he threw his cards and hit me in the eyes with them. I was having a bad day, and it was just the final straw for me. I ripped off my name tag and garters and literally dove across the table to try to get at him. Other players grabbed me, Slim came over and walked me around til I cooled off and then sat me back in the game. Later that evening, Stuey came over to me at the bar, sat down, bought me a drink and apologized...as did I. We talked for a while, and I came to understand Stuey a bit.

   Over the next couple of years I dealt to him, partied with him, talked with him, and unbeknowst to him, came to admire him greatly. I was an addict myself, so I could not pass judgement in any way on him. Instead, I studied Stuey, I watched him whenever I could. You see, as a dealer, most of us wished we could be on the other side of the table. Sitting in the box and being forced to pay attention to the action was something that, if you wanted to learn, afforded a unique opportunity to improve your game. When you look around you and see the best players in the world sitting there, moving enough money to buy small countries on the turn of a card, it couldn't help but have an impact on you. The player that had the most impact on me personally, was Stuey.

    Nobody moved chips like Stuey! I mean NOBODY!  He was such a force to be reckoned with. He absolutely controlled the table if he was in the pot. He seemed reckless, he seemed on tilt all the time. But there was a method to the madness as his record will clearly show. He had such a calculating mind that the rest of us can't even begin to comprehend it. In my opinion, he has forever changed how high stakes poker is played. I think anyone that ever played against him will agree. He broke all the rules, he pushed the envelope, and in doing so...was misunderstood by most. I used to sit and listen to dealers bitch about him. We all knew how he was...but we had to deal with him anyway. When he won, he tipped us well. We called it combat pay when referring to Stuey. But the underlying sentiment was that every one of us was jealous of him to some degree. What kind of person does it take to have that kind of heart? To make the moves he made? To risk it all on a draw? Man!....I can't imagine. All I can say is that I whenever I play now...I remember how Stuey played. I actually catch myself thinking....what would Stuey do in this spot?

   In closing, as I sit here at home in NC and play in private games and on IRC poker, I think about Stuey a lot. That's why the news came as such a shock to me. I was lucky enough to be able to pull myself out of the bottomless pit of coke addiction. Unfortunately, Stuey was not. It's a shame, and it's a terrible loss to the world of poker. I always thought that I would get back to Vegas one day and run into Stuey and say hi. Even though I still look forward to getting back to Vegas someday, I now know that something will not be the same. A piece of it that was important to me is missing...and nothing will ever replace it. I'll miss him but I'll never forget the person that I knew. And I'll never forget the things he taught me.

    My best to his family, who was important to him, especially his daughter, who he adored. Thanks for the memories Stuey!  

Chuck Gabbard

In the Las Vegas Review-Journal on Dec 4, 1998 - Column by John Smith

Gamblers salute `The Kid'

Full article here.

RGP posts published with the permissions of the authors.
Reproduction without the author's permission prohibited.

In the Las Vegas Sun on May 14, 1997 - Championship field narrowed to elite 27