Stu Ungar
Birth: September 8, 1953 (Manhattan, New York, USA) Death: November 22, 1998 Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Stu Ungar was one of the most naturally gifted card players ever to take a seat at a table. Born and raised in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, he was exposed to gambling at a young age through his father’s social club. Ungar first made his mark as a gin rummy prodigy, dominating games so thoroughly that opponents often refused to play him.
He transitioned to poker in the late 1970s and quickly made history at the World Series of Poker Main Event, becoming one of only two players ever to win the Main Event three times (1980, 1981, and 1997). Ungar also collected five WSOP bracelets and was famous for his incredible memory, intense focus, and aggressive style.
Despite his brilliance, Ungar’s life was marked by personal struggles. He battled drug addiction and financial instability throughout his career, often winning millions only to lose it soon after. After his remarkable comeback win in 1997 — earning the nickname “The Comeback Kid” — he faded from the spotlight. In November 1998, he was found dead in a Las Vegas motel at age 45. The official cause was a heart condition brought on by years of substance abuse.
Ungar was inducted posthumously into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2001 and is remembered as one of the most talented and complex figures in poker history.
