Walter Clyde "Puggy" Pearson (January 29, 1929 – April 12, 2006) was an American professional poker player. He is best known as the 1973 World Series of Poker Main Event winner.[1]
Pearson was born and raised in Tennessee in a family with nine siblings. He got his nickname "Puggy" from a childhood accident that left him with a disfigured nose at the age of twelve.[2] He dropped out of school in the fifth grade, and at the age of 17, he joined the United States Navy, where he served three terms. He strengthened his skills at poker and gambling while in the Navy.[3]
Professional poker
Prior to 1949, all poker games were cash games; a player could cash out his chips and leave at any time. Pearson originated the idea of a freezeout tournament and shared his idea with fellow gambler "Nick the Greek" Dandolos in the early 1950s. Dandalos later brought the idea to legendary casino owner Benny Binion. After further urging by Pearson, Amarillo Slim, and Doyle Brunson, all of whom felt that such a tournament would create great side (cash) game action, Binion founded the World Series of Poker in 1970. Pearson participated in the first World Series of Poker that year along with Amarillo Slim, Doyle Brunson, Sailor Roberts, Crandell Addington, and Carl Cannon.[4]
Pearson won his first World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet in the 1971 Limit Seven-Card Stud preliminary event.[5] In 1973, he won two preliminary events in the WSOP. In the same World Series, he won the Main Event when his A♠ 7♠ defeated Johnny Moss's K♥ J♠.[6] With the Main Event victory, he became the first player in WSOP history to win three events in a single year. This record has since been matched by five others. He won four bracelets, two of which were in seven-card stud and two of which were No limit hold'em.[7]
Pearson was known as a man who would always seek out the biggest game in town, whether it was in the poker room or on the golf course. He owned a RV, which he called the Roving Gambler, with this painted on the side: "I'll play any man from any land any game he can name for any amount I can count, provided I like it."[8]
Pearson, who had a long history of heart problems, died on April 12, 2006.[10][11]
Notes
^"Famous Poker Player Biographies & History". Mac Poker Online.
^"Men of Action: Walter Clyde "Puggy" Pearson - Poker News". Card Player. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
^"Legend of Poker: Walter Clyde 'Puggy' Pearson 1929-2006". Poker News. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
^"World Series of Poker: A Retrospective: 1970 Summary". UNLV. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
^"2nd World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1971 - Limit 7 Card Stud - Event 1 - Poker Tournaments - Results". CardPlayer Magazine. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
^"Poker tournament pioneer 'Puggy' Pearson dies". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
^"WSOP NEWS: 37 Puggy Pearson". WSOP. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
^"A History of the World Series Of Poker: - Puggy "The Roving Gambler" Pearson (1973)". PartyPoker. June 17, 2013. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
^""Puggy" Pearson, Poker Hall of Famer, Has Died - Poker News". Card Player. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
^Allan, Elkan. Walter 'Puggy' Pearson, The Guardian, April 17, 2006. Accessed June 4, 2017.
^Gower, Diana. Puggy Pearson, The Independent, April 26, 2006. Accessed June 4, 2017.
External links
Guardian article by Victoria Coren
CardPlayer article by Jeff Shulman
Hendon Mob tournament results
WNY Poker thread
February 02, 2023
puggy, pearson, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, 2009, learn. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Puggy Pearson news newspapers books scholar JSTOR May 2009 Learn how and when to remove this template message Walter Clyde Puggy Pearson January 29 1929 April 12 2006 was an American professional poker player He is best known as the 1973 World Series of Poker Main Event winner 1 Puggy PearsonPuggy Pearson in the 1974 World Series of PokerNickname s PuggyResidenceLas Vegas NevadaBorn 1929 01 29 January 29 1929Adairville KentuckyDiedApril 12 2006 2006 04 12 aged 77 Las Vegas NevadaWorld Series of PokerBracelet s 4Money finish es 9Highest ITMMain Event finishWinner 1973 Contents 1 Early years 2 Professional poker 3 World Series of Poker Bracelets 4 Death 5 Notes 6 External linksEarly years EditPearson was born and raised in Tennessee in a family with nine siblings He got his nickname Puggy from a childhood accident that left him with a disfigured nose at the age of twelve 2 He dropped out of school in the fifth grade and at the age of 17 he joined the United States Navy where he served three terms He strengthened his skills at poker and gambling while in the Navy 3 Professional poker EditPrior to 1949 all poker games were cash games a player could cash out his chips and leave at any time Pearson originated the idea of a freezeout tournament and shared his idea with fellow gambler Nick the Greek Dandolos in the early 1950s Dandalos later brought the idea to legendary casino owner Benny Binion After further urging by Pearson Amarillo Slim and Doyle Brunson all of whom felt that such a tournament would create great side cash game action Binion founded the World Series of Poker in 1970 Pearson participated in the first World Series of Poker that year along with Amarillo Slim Doyle Brunson Sailor Roberts Crandell Addington and Carl Cannon 4 Pearson won his first World Series of Poker WSOP bracelet in the 1971 Limit Seven Card Stud preliminary event 5 In 1973 he won two preliminary events in the WSOP In the same World Series he won the Main Event when his A 7 defeated Johnny Moss s K J 6 With the Main Event victory he became the first player in WSOP history to win three events in a single year This record has since been matched by five others He won four bracelets two of which were in seven card stud and two of which were No limit hold em 7 Pearson was known as a man who would always seek out the biggest game in town whether it was in the poker room or on the golf course He owned a RV which he called the Roving Gambler with this painted on the side I ll play any man from any land any game he can name for any amount I can count provided I like it 8 Pearson was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 1987 9 He was also infamously abusive to casino employees throwing cards at dealers berating floor persons and not tipping service staff World Series of Poker Bracelets EditYear Tournament Prize US 1971 Limit Seven Card Stud 10 0001973 10 000 No Limit Hold em World Championship 130 0001973 1 000 No Limit Hold em 17 0001973 4 000 Limit Seven Card Stud 32 000Death EditPearson who had a long history of heart problems died on April 12 2006 10 11 Notes Edit Famous Poker Player Biographies amp History Mac Poker Online Men of Action Walter Clyde Puggy Pearson Poker News Card Player Retrieved November 29 2018 Legend of Poker Walter Clyde Puggy Pearson 1929 2006 Poker News Retrieved November 29 2018 World Series of Poker A Retrospective 1970 Summary UNLV Retrieved November 29 2018 2nd World Series of Poker WSOP 1971 Limit 7 Card Stud Event 1 Poker Tournaments Results CardPlayer Magazine Retrieved November 30 2018 Poker tournament pioneer Puggy Pearson dies Las Vegas Sun Retrieved November 29 2018 WSOP NEWS 37 Puggy Pearson WSOP Retrieved November 29 2018 A History of the World Series Of Poker Puggy The Roving Gambler Pearson 1973 PartyPoker June 17 2013 Retrieved November 29 2018 Puggy Pearson Poker Hall of Famer Has Died Poker News Card Player Retrieved November 29 2018 Allan Elkan Walter Puggy Pearson The Guardian April 17 2006 Accessed June 4 2017 Gower Diana Puggy Pearson The Independent April 26 2006 Accessed June 4 2017 External links EditGuardian article by Victoria Coren CardPlayer article by Jeff Shulman Hendon Mob tournament results WNY Poker thread Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Puggy Pearson amp oldid 1068563133, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
