Doyle Brunson, a giant of poker often referred to as the game's "godfather," died Sunday in Las Vegas at the age of 89.
Brunson, whose influence on poker spanned generations, was the first player to officially make $1 million playing the game. He turned lessons gleaned from his career into the 1979 book SuperSystem, a groundbreaking manual of poker strategy featuring contributions from several top players.
"It is with a heavy heart we announce the passing of our father, Doyle Brunson," read a statement from the Brunson family, tweeted out by agent Brian Balsbaugh. "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."
