Stu Ungar: The Kid Who Crushed the Poker World

Stu Ungar was known as The Kid, and for good reason. He was barely old enough to drink when he took down the biggest prize in poker. He was a phenom who dominated poker.

He was Stu Ungar, and this is his story.

The Rise of a Gambling Prodigy from New York

Stu Anger was a New York kid who grew up in the early 50’s, 1953. His old man ran a bar that doubled as a gambling den after dark. He was surrounded by drunks and card players who taught him Gin Rummy when he was 8. 

Did you know?

Stu won his first Gin Rummy tournament at the tender age of 10!

One day, when he was 18, Stu crossed paths with Victor Romano, a mafia man. Romano took Stu under his wing and showed him the ropes. But he also took a 20% vig from Stu’s action. Stu didn’t mind. He was on his way to becoming a legend.

The Kid: From New York to Vegas

By the time he was 21, Stu had mastered gin rummy. He moved on to blackjack and cleaned up the tables too. But he also made enemies with the casinos and the Genovese family. When they came after him, he had to bolt from New York and head south.

Genovese family. When they came after him, he had to bolt from New York and head south.

He hustled his way through Miami and LA, looking for fresh meat and easy money.

First Taste of Vegas

Stu Ungar came to Vegas in 1977. But his first hand at the most expensive no-limit Hold’Em table in Vegas was a failure. He lost.

But he did not lose his spirit. He paid $20,000 to play in a No-Limit Hold’Em tournament. Stu played for 36 hours straight, with a supernatural skill and a fearless attitude. He won $47,000. 

WSOP Champion

In 1980, Stu Ungar burst onto the poker scene and became the youngest winner of the prestigious World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event. He was just 26 years old, when he beat Doyle “Texas Dolly” Brunson. 

He proved it again in 1981, when he defended his WSOP title by outplaying Perry “The Silver Fox” Green, who had no chance against Ungar’s razor-sharp instincts. 

Ungar made history by becoming the first player to win back-to-back WSOP Main Events.

But he wasn’t done yet. He continued to crush the high-stakes tournaments, winning 10 of them in his short career. He earned five WSOP bracelets and over $3.6 million. 

Legendary Comeback

His crowning achievement came in 1997.  He showed up at the WSOP with a $10,000 loan and a lot of guts. He crushed the competition and made it to the final table. He faced John Strzemp, who had a massive chip lead.

He played his cards like a master, bluffing, trapping, and reading his opponent. He pulled off the impossible, winning his third WSOP bracelet and $1 million.

How Cocaine Killed the Legend

In 1998, Stu Ungar hit rock bottom. On November 22, he was found dead in his motel room. He was 45 years old. No drugs were found, but his blood tested positive for cocaine and methadone.

He once said: 

“There’s no one that ever beat me playing cards. The only one that ever beat me was myself.”

He was right. He beat himself to death.

Legend

A movie based loosely on his life, High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story (alternate title Stuey), was made in 2003. He was portrayed by Michael Imperioli.

Top 5 Poker Wins of Stu Ungar