I just recently read the biography of Stu Ungar, a three-time WSOP Main Event winner. The more I read the sadder I became. It seems that the man indeed was very talented in poker, but the drug addiction he battle for almost twenty years of his life ultimately took its price. The gifted poker pro passed away when he was merely 42 years old.
One of the most amazing things about Ungar is the fact that he won his first WSOP title (in 1980) having almost no experience in No Limit Texas Hold 'em. Who could have guessed that the 22-year-old poker novice would nab the coveted title? The phenomenal player, who was nicknamed 'The Kid' because of his youth, proved his talent once again the very next year.
In 1997, almost sixteen years after his 1981 WSOP win, Ungar won the prestigious competition once again. According to reports, he dedicated his success to his daughter Stephanie.
The Kid died on November 22, 1998. I read at onlinepokereport.com that after Ungar's death, his wife and daughter established a charitable foundation in the poker player's name. The foundation's official goal is to increase worldwide awareness to problems associated with addictive behavior, such as gambling and drugs.
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