Stu Ungar

Stuart Errol Ungar was born in New York City in 1953 and demonstrated prodigious card-playing ability from childhood. By age 10, he was beating adults at gin rummy. By his teens, he had become so dominant that no one would play him for serious money—he reportedly never lost a major gin rummy tournament in his life.

Ungar transitioned to poker after dominating gin rummy, and his success was immediate. He won the WSOP Main Event in 1980 at age 27, then successfully defended his title in 1981. His photographic memory allowed him to track every card while making lightning-fast mathematical calculations that seemed superhuman.

Ungar possessed perhaps the greatest natural card-playing talent ever seen. His photographic memory meant he could recall every card played in a session. Combined with his ability to read opponents and his fearless aggression, he was nearly impossible to beat when focused. His playing style was instinctive and brilliant.

Despite personal struggles with drug addiction that often kept him away from the tables, Ungar's influence on poker was profound. His 1997 Main Event victory, after years of absence, remains one of poker's most emotional moments. He showed that pure genius could overcome even the longest odds.

Stu Ungar won the WSOP Main Event three times—1980, 1981, and 1997—the only player ever to achieve this. He died in 1998, leaving behind a legacy of extraordinary talent and tragic waste. Many top players consider him the most naturally gifted card player who ever lived. His story serves as both inspiration and cautionary tale.