Doyle Brunson, the ‘Godfather of Poker’, dies at age of 89

Doyle Brunson, one of the most influential poker players of all time and twice world champion, died on Sunday at the age of 89.

Brian Balsbaugh, Brunson’s agent, posted a statement on Twitter from the family.

“It is with a heavy heart we announce the passing of our father, Doyle Brunson,” the statement read. “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 started playing seriously in Fort Worth, Texas, where he said the game was far tougher than the glossy, televised tournaments that are prevalent today.

“It was like the old west. Violence was rampant,” he told the Guardian in 2005, adding he had seen two people shot during games. “It was kind of a hangout for the hoodlums and gangsters of Texas and it was very, very volatile.”

Brunson, called the Godfather of Poker and also known as “Texas Dolly,” won 10 World Series of Poker tournaments – second only to Phil Hellmuth’s 16. He also captured world championships in 1976 and 1977 and was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 1988. He won more than $6m in live earnings during his career.

He wrote Super System in 1979, one of the first books to delve into poker strategy. It created a lasting impact that professional and casual players used to improve their performances.

“The two most important things are a good sense of recall and a good understanding of people,” Brunson said when asked about the secret to success in poker. “You have to have a sixth sense, a kind of gut feeling that tells you what the other guy’s holding. That’s probably the thing that all the greats share.”

Tributes poured in from other