Editing Doyle Brunson

{{Short description|American poker player (1933–2023)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox poker player
|name        = 
|nickname    = Texas Dolly, Big Papa
|image       = Doyle Brunson.jpg
|caption     = Brunson at the [[2006 World Series of Poker]]
|birth_date  = {{birth date|1933|8|10}}
|birth_place = [[Longworth, Texas]], U.S.
|death_date  = {{death date and age|2023|5|14|1933|8|10}}
|death_place = [[Las Vegas]], Nevada, U.S.
|wsop bracelet count = 10
|wsop final tables   = 26
|wsop money finishes = 37<ref name="wsop">{{Cite web |title=Doyle Brunson |url=https://www.wsop.com/players/profile/?playerID=162 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230220114423/https://www.wsop.com/players/profile/?playerid=162 |archive-date=February 20, 2023 |access-date=May 18, 2023 |website=WSOP.com |publisher=[[World Series of Poker]]}}</ref>
|wsop main event best finish rank = Winner
|wsop main event best finish year = 1976
|wsop main event best finish year 2 = 1977
|wsop main event best finish year 3 = 
|wsop main event best finish year 4 =

|wpt titles         = 1
|wpt final tables   = 3
|wpt money finishes = 8<ref name="wpt">{{Cite web |title=Doyle Brunson |url=http://www.worldpokertour.com/player/doyle-brunson/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230220114500/https://www.worldpokertour.com/player/doyle-brunson/#playerTab1 |archive-date=February 20, 2023 |access-date=May 18, 2023 |website=WorldPokerTour.com |publisher=[[World Poker Tour]]}}</ref>

|ept titles         = 0
|ept final tables   = 0
|ept money finishes = 1<ref name="mob">{{Cite web |title=Doyle Brunson |url=http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?n=34 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230220114426/https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?n=34 |archive-date=February 20, 2023 |access-date=May 18, 2023 |website=TheHendonMob.com |publisher=[[The Hendon Mob]]}}</ref>

|updated            = 2018-06-12}}

'''Doyle Frank Brunson''' (August 10, 1933 – May 14, 2023) was an American [[poker]] player who played professionally for over 60 years.<ref name="poke_Doyl">{{Cite web |last=Remko |first=Rinkema |date=June 11, 2018 |title=Doyle Brunson Announces Definitive Retirement from Poker |url=https://www.pokercentral.com/articles/doyle-brunson-announces-retirement-from-poker/ |access-date=November 21, 2019 |website=Poker Central |archive-date=June 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606002011/https://www.pokercentral.com/articles/doyle-brunson-announces-retirement-from-poker/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He was a two-time [[World Series of Poker]] (WSOP) [[List of World Series of Poker Main Event champions|Main Event champion]], a [[Poker Hall of Fame]] inductee, and the author of several books on poker.

Brunson was the first player to win $1 million in poker tournaments.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Chang |first1=Ailsa |author-link=Ailsa Chang |last2=Shapiro |first2=Ari |last3=McNamee |first3=Kai |last4=Intagliata |first4=Christopher |date=May 16, 2023 |title='Godfather of Poker' Doyle Brunson dies at 89 |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/05/16/1176506766/godfather-of-poker-doyle-brunson-dies-at-89 |access-date=May 18, 2023 |website=[[NPR]] |archive-date=May 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230518015447/https://www.npr.org/2023/05/16/1176506766/godfather-of-poker-doyle-brunson-dies-at-89 |url-status=live }}</ref> He won ten WSOP bracelets throughout his career, tied with [[Johnny Chan]] and [[Erik Seidel]] for third all time, behind [[Phil Hellmuth]]'s seventeen and [[Phil Ivey]]'s eleven.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Doyle Brunson |url=https://www.wsop.com/players/profile/?playerid=162 |access-date=January 24, 2024 |website=WSOP.com}}</ref> He is also one of only four players to have won the Main Event at the World Series of Poker multiple times, which he did in [[1976 World Series of Poker|1976]] and [[1977 World Series of Poker|1977]]. He is also one of only three players, along with [[Bill Boyd (poker player)|Bill Boyd]] and [[Loren Klein]], to have won WSOP tournaments in four consecutive years. In addition, he is the first of six players to win both the WSOP Main Event and a [[World Poker Tour]] title. In January 2006, ''[[Bluff (magazine)|Bluff]]'' magazine voted Brunson the most influential force in the world of poker.<ref>{{Cite magazine |year=2006 |title=Poker's Power 20: The Most Influential People in Poker |url=http://www.bluffmagazine.com/magazine/Poker%27s-Power-20%3A-The-Most-Influential-People-in-Poker-Bluff-Staff-340.htm |url-status=dead |magazine=[[Bluff (magazine)|Bluff]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080606054041/http://www.bluffmagazine.com/magazine/Poker%27s%2DPower%2D20%3A%2DThe%2DMost%2DInfluential%2DPeople%2Din%2DPoker%2DBluff%2DStaff-340.htm |archive-date=June 6, 2008 |access-date=August 13, 2011}}</ref>

On June 11, 2018, Brunson announced he was retiring from tournament poker that summer.<ref name="retirement">{{Cite web |last=Rinkema |first=Remko |date=June 11, 2018 |title=Doyle Brunson Announces Retirement from Poker |url=https://www.pgt.com/news/doyle-brunson-announces-retirement-from-poker/ |access-date=May 20, 2023 |website=PGT.com |archive-date=December 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205051047/https://www.pgt.com/news/doyle-brunson-announces-retirement-from-poker/ |url-status=live }}</ref> That day, he entered the $10,000 2–7 Single Draw at the [[2018 WSOP]]. He made the final table and finished in sixth place, earning $43,963.<ref name=wsop />

==Early life==
Doyle Frank Brunson was born in [[Longworth, Texas]], on August 10, 1933,<ref name="nytobit">{{Cite web |last=McElroy |first=Kathleen |date=May 15, 2023 |title=Doyle Brunson, Poker Champion Known as 'Texas Dolly,' Dies at 89 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/15/sports/doyle-brunson-dead.html |access-date=May 20, 2023 |website=The New York Times |language=en-US |archive-date=May 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519055651/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/15/sports/doyle-brunson-dead.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Fisher County Texas: 1933 Births |url=http://files.usgwarchives.net/tx/fisher/vitals/births/1933/fishb33.txt |access-date=May 19, 2023 |website=USGW Archives}}</ref> as one of three children. He went to [[Sweetwater High School (Texas)|Sweetwater High School]] where he excelled at athletics.{{r|TM}}  In the 1950 Texas Interscholastic Track Meet, he won the one-mile event with a time of 4:43.<ref name="dbss">{{Cite book |last=Brunson |first=Doyle |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OhV5uKHxQCwC&pg=PT51 |title=Doyle Brunson's Super System |date=1978 |publisher=Cardoza Publishing |isbn=9781580424752 |location=Las Vegas, Nevada |ref=dbss |access-date=September 4, 2017}}</ref> After receiving offers from many colleges, he attended [[Hardin–Simmons University]] in [[Abilene, Texas]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Burton |first=Earl |date=October 14, 2009 |title=Doyle Brunson Inducted into Hardin-Simmons University Athletic Hall of Fame |url=https://www.pokernewsdaily.com/doyle-brunson-inducted-into-hardin-simmons-university-athletic-hall-of-fame-5589/ |access-date=November 29, 2018 |website=Poker News Daily |language=en-US |archive-date=November 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130071442/https://www.pokernewsdaily.com/doyle-brunson-inducted-into-hardin-simmons-university-athletic-hall-of-fame-5589/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[Minneapolis Lakers]] of the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] showed interest in Brunson, but a knee injury ended his hopes of becoming a professional basketball player.<ref name="dbss" /> He occasionally required a crutch because of the injury and had said that breaking his leg ruined his lifetime dream of playing in the NBA.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Strazynski |first=Robbie |date=April 29, 2020 |title=Doyle Brunson Interview: 12 Questions with the Godfather of Poker |url=https://cardplayerlifestyle.com/interview-doyle-brunson/ |access-date=April 30, 2020 |website=Cardplayer Lifestyle |language=en-US |archive-date=May 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502143341/https://cardplayerlifestyle.com/interview-doyle-brunson/ |url-status=live }}</ref>  Brunson obtained a bachelor's degree in 1954 and a master's degree in administrative education the following year with plans to become a school principal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hsutx.edu/wp-content/uploads/publications/rangerider/fall2017/46|title=Family News|page=44|work=Range Rider|publisher=[[Hardin–Simmons University]]|type=alumni magazine|date=Fall–Winter 2017|access-date=May 18, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hsutx.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/RangeRider-Fall-2019.pdf|title=Card Cowboy|first=Sean|last=Chaffin|page=32|work=Range Rider|publisher=[[Hardin–Simmons University]]|type=alumni magazine|date=Fall–Winter 2019|access-date=May 18, 2023|archive-date=December 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209203127/https://www.hsutx.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/RangeRider-Fall-2019.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

Brunson had begun playing poker before his injury, playing [[five-card draw]]. He played more often after being injured, and his winnings paid for his expenses. After graduating, he took a job with [[Burroughs Corporation]] as a salesman for their [[business machine]]s. On his first day, he was invited to play in a [[seven-card stud]] game and won more than a month's salary. He soon left the company and became a professional poker player.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hopkins  |first=A.D.  |date=January 17, 2010 |title='Godfather of Poker' tells his own story |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/life/godfather-of-poker-tells-his-own-story/ |access-date=May 15, 2023 |website=Las Vegas Review-Journal}}</ref>

==Poker career==
[[File:Doyle Brunson 1976 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Brunson on the way to his 1976 WSOP Main Event title]]
Brunson started by playing in illegal games on Exchange Street in [[Fort Worth]] with friend Dwayne Hamilton.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rosenwald |first=Michael S. |date=May 16, 2023 |title=Doyle Brunson, pistol-carrying poker legend who won millions, dies at 89 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2023/05/15/doyle-brunson-world-series-of-poker-champion-dies-at-89/ |access-date=May 20, 2023 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US}}</ref> Eventually, they began traveling around Texas, [[Oklahoma]], and [[Louisiana]], playing in bigger games, and meeting fellow professionals [[Amarillo Slim]] and [[Sailor Roberts]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 12, 2023 |title=PODCAST: Poker Stories With Doyle Brunson |url=https://www.cardplayer.com/cptv/channels/13-poker-news/poker-videos/5389-podcast-poker-stories-with-doyle-brunson |access-date=May 20, 2023 |website=CardPlayer.com |archive-date=January 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131034011/https://www.cardplayer.com/cptv/channels/13-poker-news/poker-videos/5389-podcast-poker-stories-with-doyle-brunson |url-status=live }}</ref> The illegal games Brunson played in during this time were usually run by criminals who were often members of [[organized crime]], so rules were not always enforced. Brunson had recounted the violence and criminality of that era, such as the time a player at another table was shot and killed during a game.<ref name="TM">{{Cite journal |last=Levin |first=Joe |date=July 2022 |title=At 88, Poker Legend Doyle Brunson Is Still Bluffing. Or Is He? |url=https://www.texasmonthly.com/arts-entertainment/doyle-brunson-poker-legend/ |access-date=May 15, 2023 |journal=Texas Monthly |archive-date=May 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230516152557/https://www.texasmonthly.com/arts-entertainment/doyle-brunson-poker-legend/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Hamilton moved back to Fort Worth while the others teamed up and traveled together, gambling on poker, golf, and, in Doyle's words, "just about everything".<ref>{{Cite book |title=Super System 2 |page=47}}</ref> They pooled their money for gambling. After six years, they made their first serious trip to [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas]] and lost all of it, almost six figures. They decided to stop playing as partners but remained friends.<ref>{{cite book|title=Super System 2|page=48}}</ref>

Brunson finally settled in Las Vegas. He was a regular player at the World Series of Poker since its inception in [[1970 World Series of Poker|1970]], playing in the Main Event nearly every year since then, in addition to many of the other preceding bracelet-awarding events.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 18, 2022 |title=The History of the World Series of Poker: 1970–1989 |url=https://en.ggpoker.com/blog/wsop-new/the-history-of-the-world-series-of-poker-1970-1989/ |access-date=May 20, 2023 |website=GGPoker.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=May 14, 2023 |title=Poker World Mourns The Passing Of Doyle Brunson |url=https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/27848-poker-world-mourns-the-passing-of-doyle-brunson |access-date=May 19, 2023 |website=CardPlayer.com |archive-date=May 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230515075428/https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/27848-poker-world-mourns-the-passing-of-doyle-brunson |url-status=live }}</ref> He made some WSOP championship event final tables before his back-to-back wins, but since this was when the event was winner-take-all, they are not counted as cashes. Besides his two championship wins in 1976 and 1977, Brunson's other Main Event cashes are: 1972 (3rd), 1980 (runner-up to three-time Main Event winner [[Stu Ungar]]), 1982 (4th), 1983 (3rd), 1997 (16th), 2004 (53rd), and 2013 (409th).<ref name="wsop" />

Brunson authored ''[[Super/System]]'', which is widely considered one of the most authoritative books on poker.<ref name="TM"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/christmas-specials/2007/12/19/a-big-deal|title=A big deal|date=December 19, 2007|newspaper=[[The Economist]]|url-access=limited|access-date=May 18, 2023}}</ref> Originally self-published in 1978, ''Super/System'' was the book credited with transforming poker by giving ordinary players insight into how professionals such as Brunson played and won, so much so that Brunson believed that it cost him a lot of money.<ref>{{cite book|page=107|title=The Biggest Game in Town|last=Alvarez|first=Al|author-link=Al Alvarez|year=1983|publisher=[[Houghton Mifflin]]|isbn=9780395339640 |url=https://archive.org/details/biggestgameintow00alva_1/page/110/|via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> An updated revision, ''Super/System 2'', was published in 2004. Besides Brunson, several top poker players contributed chapters to ''Super/System'' including [[Bobby Baldwin]], [[Mike Caro]], [[David Sklansky]], [[Chip Reese]], and Joey Hawthorne. The book is subtitled "How I made one million dollars playing poker" by Doyle Brunson. Brunson is also the author of ''Poker Wisdom of a Champion'', originally published as ''According to Doyle'' by Lyle Stuart in 1984.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Brunson |first=Doyle |url=https://archive.org/details/pokerwisdomofcha00brun |title=Poker Wisdom of a Champion |date=November 4, 2003 |publisher=Cardoza |isbn=9781580421195 |language=en |quote=Poker Wisdom of a Champion. |url-access=registration}}</ref>

Brunson continued to play in the biggest poker games in the world, including a $4,000/$8,000 limit mixed poker game in "Bobby's Room" at the [[Bellagio (resort and casino)|Bellagio]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 15, 2011 |title=Newsflash: SchnibL0r in Bobby's Room, Huge Games at the Rio, PPA Interviewed |url=https://www.pokerstrategy.com/news/world-of-poker/Newsflash:-SchnibL0r-in-Bobby-s-Room,-Huge-Games-at-the-Rio,-PPA-Interviewed_47710/ |access-date=May 19, 2023 |website=Poker Strategy |archive-date=June 21, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110621051230/http://www.pokerstrategy.com/news/world-of-poker/Newsflash:-SchnibL0r-in-Bobby-s-Room,-Huge-Games-at-the-Rio,-PPA-Interviewed_47710/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bradley |first=Lance |date=May 14, 2023 |title=Doyle Brunson, The Godfather of Poker, Gone at 89 |url=https://www.worldpokertour.com/news/doyle-brunson-the-godfather-of-poker-gone-at-89/ |access-date=May 20, 2023 |website=World Poker Tour |language=en-US |archive-date=May 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519140945/https://www.worldpokertour.com/news/doyle-brunson-the-godfather-of-poker-gone-at-89/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He also played in many of the biggest poker tournaments around the world. He won his ninth gold bracelet in a mixed games event in [[2003 World Series of Poker|2003]], and in [[2004 World Series of Poker|2004]], he finished 53rd (in a field of 2,576) in the No Limit [[Texas hold 'em]] Championship event.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 12, 2013 |title=Five Decades of Main Event Cashes for Tex Dolly |url=https://www.pokernews.com/tours/wsop/2013-world-series-of-poker/event-62-10-000-no-limit-hold-em-main-event/post.220746.htm |access-date=May 20, 2023 |website=PokerNews.com |language=en}}</ref> He won the Legends of Poker [[World Poker Tour]] (WPT) event in 2004 (garnering him a $1.1 million prize).<ref>{{Cite web |title=2004 Legends of Poker, No Limit Hold'em Championship Final Day - WPT |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=7026 |access-date=2024-04-09 |website=The Hendon Mob |language=en}}</ref> He finished fourth in the WPT's first championship event.<ref>{{Cite web |title=World Poker Tour - WPT Championship, WPT Championship - No Limit Hold'em |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=11453 |access-date=2024-04-09 |website=The Hendon Mob |language=en}}</ref>

Early in the morning on July 1, 2005, less than a week after Chan had won his 10th gold bracelet (presented to each WSOP tournament winner) – setting a new record – Brunson tied him at the [[2005 World Series of Poker|2005 WSOP]] by winning the $5,000 No Limit Shorthanded Texas Hold'em event.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nuwwarah |first=Mo |date=July 13, 2020 |title=WSOP Legend: Doyle Brunson's Final Bracelet, 15 Years Later |url=https://www.pokernews.com/news/2020/07/wsop-legend-doyle-brunson-final-bracelet-37613.htm |access-date=May 20, 2023 |website=PokerNews.com |language=en |archive-date=September 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927152127/https://www.pokernews.com/news/2020/07/wsop-legend-doyle-brunson-final-bracelet-37613.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> He was six bracelets behind Phil Hellmuth, who earned his 16th bracelet at the [[2021 World Series of Poker]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=WSOP Players – Bracelet & Winners |url=https://www.wsop.com/players/ |access-date=May 20, 2023 |website=WSOP.com |archive-date=May 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230507043144/https://www.wsop.com/players/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He cashed in the [[2013 World Series of Poker]] $10,000 No Limit Hold'em Championship event, marking the fifth decade he had cashed in the event.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 12, 2013 |title=Doyle Brunson Cashes In His Eighth World Series of Poker Main Event |url=https://www.pokerkingblog.com/2013/07/12/doyle-brunson-cashes-in-his-eighth-world-series-of-poker-main-event/ |access-date=August 1, 2021 |website=PokerKingBlog.com |language=en |archive-date=August 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801140903/https://www.pokerkingblog.com/2013/07/12/doyle-brunson-cashes-in-his-eighth-world-series-of-poker-main-event/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Doyle temporarily came out of retirement from tournament play to participate in the 2021 WSOP No-Limit Hold-Em Master of Ceremonies Invitational, placing 5th behind [[Phil Hellmuth]] (4th), [[Norman Chad]] (3rd), [[Lon McEachern]] (2nd), and [[Vince Vaughn]] (1st).<ref>{{Cite web |title=52nd World Series of Poker – WSOP 2021, No Limit Hold'em – WSOP Master of Ceremonies Invitational: Hendon Mob Poker Database |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=778049 |access-date=May 20, 2023 |website=The Hendon Mob |language=en |archive-date=March 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306195923/https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=778049 |url-status=live }}</ref>

As of 2023, his total live tournament winnings exceed $6,100,000.<ref name=mob/>  He totaled over $3,000,000 in earnings from his 37 cashes at the WSOP.<ref name=wsop/>

Brunson had two Texas hold'em hands named after him. The holding of ten-deuce bears his name because he won the No Limit Hold 'Em event at the World Series of Poker two years in a row with a ten and a two (1976 and 1977), in both cases completing a full house as an underdog in the final hand.<ref>{{cite book|pages=158–159|url=https://archive.org/details/positivelyfifths00jame/page/158/mode/2up?q=brunson|via=[[Internet Archive]]|title=Positively Fifth Street|last=McManus|first=James|author-link=James McManus|year=2003|publisher=[[Farrar, Straus and Giroux]]| isbn=9780312422523 }}</ref> The other hand known as a "Doyle Brunson", especially in Texas, is the ace and queen of any suit because, in his words, he "[tries] never to play this hand".<ref>{{cite book|title=Super System|page=519}} {{cite book|title=Super System 2|page=629}}</ref>

===World Series of Poker bracelets===
{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Tournament
!Prize (US$)
|-
|[[1976 World Series of Poker|1976]]
|$5,000 Deuce to Seven Draw
|$80,250
|-
|1976
|$10,000 No Limit Hold'em World Championship
|$230,000
|-
|[[1977 World Series of Poker|1977]]
|$1,000 Seven-Card Stud Split
|$62,500
|-
|1977
|$10,000 No Limit Hold'em World Championship
|$340,000
|-
|[[1978 World Series of Poker|1978]]
|$5,000 Seven-Card Stud
|$68,000
|-
|[[1979 World Series of Poker|1979]]
|$600 Mixed Doubles 
Seven Card Stud 
(with [[Starla Brodie]])<ref>{{Cite web |title=10th World Series of Poker – WSOP 1979, Seven Card Stud – Mixed Doubles: Hendon Mob Poker Database |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=8128 |access-date=May 19, 2023 |website=The Hendon Mob |language=en |archive-date=October 25, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025174335/http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=8128 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|$4,500
|-
|[[1991 World Series of Poker|1991]]
|$2,500 No Limit Hold'em
|$208,000
|-
|[[1998 World Series of Poker|1998]]
|$1,500 Seven-Card [[Razz (poker)|Razz]]
|$93,000
|-
|[[2003 World Series of Poker|2003]]
|$2,000 H.O.R.S.E.
|$84,080
|-
|[[2005 World Series of Poker|2005]]
|$5,000 No Limit Shorthanded Texas Hold'em (6 players per table)
|$367,800
|}
''Adapted from the World Series of Poker website''<ref name="wsop" />

==Personal life==
Brunson met his future wife, Louise, in 1959 and married her in August 1962. Louise became pregnant, but a tumor was discovered in Doyle's neck later that year. The surgeons found that the cancer had spread when it was operated on. They felt that an operation would prolong his life enough for him to see the baby's birth, so they went ahead. After the operation, no trace of the cancer could be found.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Super System 2 |page=50}}</ref>

Brunson attributed his cure to the prayers of friends of his wife and their correspondence with [[Kathryn Kuhlman]], a self-proclaimed Christian [[faith healer]].<ref>{{Cite book |title=Super System 2 |page=51}}</ref> Louise developed a tumor shortly afterward, and when she went for surgery, her tumor was also found to have disappeared. In 1975, their daughter Doyla was diagnosed with [[scoliosis]], yet her spine straightened completely within three months. Doyla died at 18 of a heart-valve condition.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Norman |first=Matthew |date=July 19, 2005 |title='Texas Dolly' shows his hand |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/3645214/Texas-Dolly-shows-his-hand.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/3645214/Texas-Dolly-shows-his-hand.html |archive-date=January 12, 2022 |access-date=November 29, 2018 |website=The Daily Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

His son, [[Todd Brunson|Todd]], also plays poker professionally. Todd won a bracelet in the $2,500 [[Omaha hold'em#Omaha Hi-Lo|Omaha Hi-Lo]] at the 2005 World Series of Poker, making Doyle and Todd the first father–son combination to win World Series bracelets.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McManus |first=James |author-link=James McManus |date=July 15, 2005 |title=Fathers, Sons and Other Big Winners |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/15/sports/othersports/fathers-sons-and-other-big-winners.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731135816/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/15/sports/othersports/fathers-sons-and-other-big-winners.html |archive-date=July 31, 2021 |access-date=July 31, 2021 |website=The New York Times |language=en-US}}</ref> His daughter Pamela played in the [[2007 World Series of Poker]], outlasting Todd.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 17, 2007 |title=2007 38th Annual World Series of Poker – Event #55: $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event – World Championship |url=https://www.wsop.com/tournaments/results/?aid=2&tid=3482&grid=309 |access-date=May 18, 2023 |website=[[World Series of Poker]] |archive-date=May 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230518201123/https://www.wsop.com/tournaments/results/?aid=2&tid=3482&grid=309 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Brunson died in Las Vegas on May 14, 2023, aged 89.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schoen |first=David |date=May 14, 2023 |title=Poker legend Doyle Brunson dies at 89 |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/poker/poker-legend-doyle-brunson-dies-at-89-2777279/ |access-date=May 14, 2023 |website=The Review-Journal |archive-date=May 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230515014449/https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/poker/poker-legend-doyle-brunson-dies-at-89-2777279/?utm_campaign=widget&utm_medium=section_row&utm_source=entertainment&utm_term=Poker%20legend%20Doyle%20Brunson%20dies%20at%2089 |url-status=live }} The cause of death was not revealed.</ref> A Celebration of Life was held at the 2023 WSOP. Daniel Negreanu and Phil Hellmuth were among the speakers.<ref name="c782">{{cite web | last=Richards | first=Connor | title=Hellmuth, Negreanu Pay Tribute to Doyle Brunson at 2023 WSOP | website=PokerNews | date=2023-07-09 | url=https://www.pokernews.com/news/2023/07/doyle-brunson-tribute-wsop-44038.htm | access-date=2025-02-23}}</ref>

==SEC investigation==
On December 14, 2005, the [[Securities and Exchange Commission]] (SEC) filed an action<ref>{{Cite web |title=David Chesnoff and Chaka Henry: Lit. Rel. No. 19495 / December 16, 2005 |url=https://www.sec.gov/litigation/litreleases/lr19495.htm |access-date=May 19, 2023 |website=SEC.gov |archive-date=May 31, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170531102653/https://www.sec.gov/litigation/litreleases/lr19495.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> to enforce subpoenas issued to the attorneys of Doyle Brunson regarding his unsolicited offer in July 2005 to buy WPT Enterprises, Inc., the publicly traded owner of the [[World Poker Tour]], at a premium over its then-market value. Shortly after that, the Commission contended, a public relations firm Brunson hired, and a website he endorsed, publicly announced the offer. The Commission asserted that the publication of this offer, widely covered in the media, triggered a steep rise in WPT's stock price on record trading volume. Brunson and his lawyers immediately stopped responding to the WPT and the media when pressed for details. Instead, after delivering the offer, Brunson withdrew from the engagement. When the WPT publicly disclosed Brunson and his law firm's unresponsiveness, its stock price sharply declined, costing investors tens of millions of dollars in lost market value.<ref name="AH">{{Cite book |last=Holden |first=Anthony |title=Bigger Deal: A Year Inside the Poker Boom |date=May 8, 2007 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=978-1-4165-3929-2 |pages=94–95 |language=en |author-link=Anthony Holden}}</ref>

The SEC formally investigated whether Brunson's offer and its publication violated federal securities laws, including the anti-fraud provisions of the [[Securities Exchange Act of 1934]]. Brunson invoked his [[Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution|Fifth Amendment]] right against self-incrimination and declined to testify in the investigation, directing his lawyers to withhold certain documents and, under the [[attorney–client privilege]] and [[work-product doctrine]], not to testify on critical aspects of the offer. In December 2005, the SEC subpoenaed documents and testimony from Brunson's lawyers seeking to set aside these privileges on various legal grounds, including the crime-fraud exception, in order to compel Brunson's firm to provide the requested documents and testimony.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Friedman |first=Michael |date=December 17, 2005 |title=SEC Files Action Against Doyle's Attorneys |url=https://www.pokernews.com/news/2005/12/sec-action-doyle-2388.htm |access-date=May 19, 2023 |website=PokerNews.com |language=en}}</ref>

The case was eventually dropped by the SEC in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 13, 2007 |title=SEC Drops Doyle Brunson's World Poker Tour Bid Investigation |url=http://www.pokerpages.com/poker-news/news/sec-drops-doyle-brunsons-world-poker-tour-bid-investigation--29778.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130309073239/http://www.pokerpages.com/poker-news/news/sec-drops-doyle-brunsons-world-poker-tour-bid-investigation--29778.htm |archive-date=March 9, 2013 |website=PokerPages News}}</ref>

==Doyles Room==
[[Doyles Room]] was an [[online poker]] room established in 2004. Originally on the Tribeca Poker Network (now part of the [[Playtech]] iPoker network), Doyles Room moved to the [[Microgaming]] (Prima) Poker Network in 2007, then to the [[Cake Poker Network]] in January 2009, and most recently to the Yatahay Network in January 2011.

On May 26, 2011, Doyles Room was seized in accordance with an investigation into the violation of online gambling laws. Following the events of [[United States v. Scheinberg|April 15]], Brunson cut ties with Doyles Room.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wolford |first=Josh |date=May 26, 2011 |title=Online Poker Site DoylesRoom, Others Seized |url=https://www.webpronews.com/online-poker-site-doylesroom-others-seized/ |access-date=May 19, 2023 |website=WebProNews.com |language=en-US |archive-date=February 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204144650/https://www.webpronews.com/online-poker-site-doylesroom-others-seized/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In October 2011, Doyles Room was acquired by [[Americas Cardroom]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Murray |first=Brendan |date=October 14, 2011 |title=Doyles Room Acquired By Americas Cardroom |url=https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/12155-doyles-room-acquired-by-americas-cardroom |access-date=May 18, 2023 |website=CardPlayer.com |archive-date=May 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519021340/https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/12155-doyles-room-acquired-by-americas-cardroom |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Bibliography==
*''[[Super/System|Doyle Brunson's Super System: A Course in Power Poker]]'' (1979); {{ISBN|1-58042-081-8}}
*''According to Doyle'' (1984); {{ISBN|0-89746-003-0}}
*''Poker Wisdom of a Champion'' (2003; formerly titled ''According to Doyle'' when published in 1984); {{ISBN|1-58042-119-9}}
*''Doyle Brunson's Super System 2:  A Course in Power Poker'' (2005); {{ISBN|1-58042-136-9}}
*''Online Poker: Your Guide to Playing Online Poker Safely & Winning Money'' (2005); {{ISBN|1-58042-132-6}}
*''My 50 Most Memorable Hands'' (2007); {{ISBN|1-58042-202-0}}
*''The Godfather of Poker: The Doyle Brunson Story'' (2009); {{ISBN|1-58042-257-8}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-players/1357-doyle-brunson Card Player profile]
*[https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=34 Hendon Mob profile]
*[https://www.pokernews.com/poker-players/doyle-brunson/ PokerNews profile]
*[https://www.worldpokertour.com/player/doyle-brunson/ WPT profile]
*[https://www.wsop.com/players/profile/?playerid=162 WSOP profile]

{{WSOP Main Event champions}}
{{1970s WSOP Bracelet Winners}}
{{1990s WSOP Bracelet Winners}}
{{2000s WSOP Bracelet Winners}}
{{Poker Hall of Fame}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brunson, Doyle}}
[[Category:1933 births]]
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[[Category:World Poker Tour winners]]
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[[Category:People from Fisher County, Texas]]
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