Doyle Brunson, the Godfather of Poker, Passes Away at 89

Doyle Brunson, "the Godfather of Poker," passed away at the age of 89 in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Sunday, May 14.

The news was confirmed on Sunday evening by Brunson's agent Brian Balsbaugh, who shared the following statement on Twitter on behalf of the Brunson family.

“It is with a heavy heart we announce the passing of our father, Doyle Brunson. He was a beloved Christian man, husband, father, and grandfather. We’ll have more to say over the coming days as we honor his legacy. Please keep Doyle and our family in your prayers. May he rest in peace.”

Brunson was a 10-time World Series of Poker gold bracelet winner, including winning the WSOP Main Event in back-to-back years of 1976 and 1977, and a member of the World Poker Tour Champions Club. Brunson won more than $6,100,000 in live poker tournaments throughout his career and was the first player to eclipse more than $1,000,000 in live tournament earnings, but it's his success and longevity in high-stakes cash games that resonate loudest amongst his peers and fans.

Brunson was a longtime fixture in "Bobby's Room" (now Legends Room) at Bellagio and on some of poker's most iconic cash game shows, including High Stakes Poker where he was featured in more than 50 episodes across nine seasons. In 1988, Brunson was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame.

Brunson was also a widely respected author who published the highly influential Super/System: A Course in Power Poker in 1979. The book quickly became the bible for poker strategy and revolutionized the way people think and play the game.

Brunson is survived by his wife, Louise, his son, Todd, and his daughter, Pam.