Doyle Frank Brunson (August 10, 1933 – May 14, 2023) was an iconic American poker player with a professional career spanning over half a century. He achieved numerous accolades, including being a two-time World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event champion, an esteemed member of the Poker Hall of Fame, and the author of several influential poker books.
Pioneering Achievements
Brunson made history by becoming the first player to earn $1 million in poker tournaments. He secured an impressive ten WSOP bracelets during his career, tying with Johnny Chan and Phil Ivey for second place in the all-time bracelet standings, with Phil Hellmuth leading with seventeen. Additionally, he is one of only three players to have won the WSOP Main Event multiple times, accomplishing this feat in 1976 and 1977. Alongside Bill Boyd and Loren Klein, Brunson is also one of the few to have won WSOP tournaments in four consecutive years. Furthermore, he was the inaugural among six players to clinch both the WSOP Main Event and a World Poker Tour title. In recognition of his contributions to poker, Bluff magazine named Brunson the most influential force in the poker world in January 2006.
Retirement and Last Tournament
On June 11, 2018, Doyle Brunson officially announced his retirement from tournament poker that summer. Coincidentally, on the same day, he participated in the $10,000 2–7 Single Draw event at the 2018 WSOP. Remarkably, he reached the final table, finishing in sixth place and earning $43,963.
Early Life and Education
Born in Longworth, Texas, on August 10, 1933, Doyle Brunson was one of three children. He attended Sweetwater High School, where he excelled in athletics. At the 1950 Texas Interscholastic Track Meet, he emerged victorious in the one-mile event with a time of 4:43. Despite attracting the interest of the NBA’s Minneapolis Lakers, a knee injury shattered his dreams of becoming a professional basketball player. This injury occasionally required him to use a crutch, a constant reminder of his unrealized basketball aspirations. Brunson pursued higher education, earning a bachelor’s degree in 1954 and a master’s degree in administrative education the following year, with aspirations of becoming a school principal.
Poker Career Genesis
Brunson’s poker journey commenced before his injury when he started playing five-card draw. Following his injury, he began playing more frequently, and his poker winnings effectively covered his living expenses. After graduation, Brunson briefly worked as a salesman for Burroughs Corporation, a business machine company. On his first day on the job, he was invited to join a seven-card stud game and walked away with more than a month’s salary. This early success prompted him to leave his job and embrace a career as a professional poker player.
Poker Career Highlights
Brunson’s poker career began with illegal games on Exchange Street in Fort Worth, Texas, alongside his friend Dwayne Hamilton. Eventually, they expanded their horizons, traveling through Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana to participate in larger games and meet fellow poker professionals like Amarillo Slim and Sailor Roberts. The illegal games they played in during this period were often hosted by individuals connected to organized crime, and rules were not consistently enforced. Brunson recounted the violence and criminality of that era, including an incident where a player was shot and killed during a game.
After a while, Hamilton returned to Fort Worth, while Brunson and the others formed a team and traveled together, gambling on poker, golf, and various other pursuits. They pooled their money for gambling but encountered a setback when they lost nearly six figures during their first serious trip to Las Vegas after six years of partnership. Although they decided to stop playing together as partners, they remained friends.
Brunson eventually settled in Las Vegas, where he became a regular participant at the World Series of Poker since its inception in 1970. He frequently played in the Main Event and other bracelet-awarding events. Brunson reached several WSOP championship event final tables before the introduction of cash prizes for non-winners. In addition to his back-to-back Main Event victories in 1976 and 1977, Brunson’s other Main Event finishes include third place in 1972, runner-up to three-time Main Event champion Stu Ungar in 1980, fourth place in 1982, third place in 1983, 16th place in 1997, 53rd place in 2004, and 409th place in 2013.
Authorship and Influence
Doyle Brunson authored “Super/System,” a book often regarded as one of the most authoritative texts on poker. Initially self-published in 1978, “Super/System” played a transformative role in the world of poker, providing ordinary players with insights into the strategies and tactics employed by professionals like Brunson. In fact, Brunson believed that the book had cost him a significant amount of money, as it gave away many of his winning strategies. An updated edition, “Super/System 2,” was published in 2004. The book features contributions from several top poker players, including Bobby Baldwin, Mike Caro, David Sklansky, Chip Reese, and Joey Hawthorne. Brunson also authored “Poker Wisdom of a Champion,” originally published as “According to Doyle” by Lyle Stuart in 1984.
Lasting Legacy
Even in his later years, Doyle Brunson continued to participate in high-stakes poker games, including a $4,000/$8,000 limit mixed poker game in “Bobby’s Room” at the Bellagio. He remained an active participant in major poker tournaments worldwide, earning his ninth WSOP bracelet in a mixed games event in 2003. Notably, in 2004, he won the Legends of Poker World Poker Tour (WPT) event, securing a prize of $1.1 million. He also finished fourth in the WPT’s inaugural championship event.
Brunson’s impact on the poker world was profound, and his legendary status was solidified by his consistent performance at the highest levels of the game. His enduring presence and influence in poker were undeniable, and his contributions to the sport will be remembered for generations to come.
As of 2023, Doyle Brunson’s lifetime tournament winnings exceeded $6.1 million, with over $3 million coming from his 37 cashes at the WSOP. Brunson’s legacy as a poker icon continues to inspire players and enthusiasts alike.