Poker hall-of-famer dies

Poker legend David "Chip" Reese didn't seek the stardom bestowed upon today's players through televised poker tournaments.

He was content to make his mark in high-limit cash poker games, including holding a seat at the secretive, semi-regular "Big Game" played in the back area of the Bellagio poker room between some of game's most well-known professionals.

Reese, a member of the Poker Hall of Fame who died Tuesday morning at the age of 56, was satisfied with his stature in the game.

"He never looked for the limelight," said poker champion Barry Greenstein, who, with poker icon Doyle Brunson, considered himself one of Reese's closest friends. "Chip was the top dog in the cash games, and he was one of the most well-respected players because of his skill. The public knows the tournament players, but that didn't really concern him."

Reese was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 1991, becoming the group's youngest member.

The cause of Reese's death was not known Tuesday, and funeral arrangements were pending. Greenstein said Reese had not been feeling well in the past few days and speculated the gastric bypass surgery Reese underwent a few years ago might have been a contributing factor. He said Reese weighed 300 pounds at one point, having lost and gained back 100 pounds on several occasions.

"As poker players, we do things we know that shorten the life span," Greenstein said. "We played poker in smoky rooms, staying up for a day or two at a time. We also don't eat well. In our community, we don't look for answers. Chip was very likely one of the most respected players around."

Brunson, who has won 10 individual World Series of Poker event titles, said Reese never cared about getting exposure to the mass audience.

"He was a poker purist and, no doubt, was the best player who ever lived without question," Brunson said. "Next to (former Binion's owner) Jack Binion, he was my best friend for 35 years."

Reese, who lived in Las Vegas, played sparingly in the early days of the World Series of Poker, when the tournament was held with a few hundred players over a week's time at Binion's Horseshoe. Today, the World Series of Poker is owned by Harrah's Entertainment, is played at the Rio, encompasses 55 events over six weeks, and attracts more than 54,000 entries.

In his World Series of Poker career, Reese captured three event championship bracelets and more than $2.2 million in earnings. He never won the tournament's $10,000 buy-in world championship event. He finished 26th in the 1993 main event.

Before 2006, his last World Series victory occurred in 1982. But 24 years later, Reese became known to a new cadre of poker fans. Reese was encouraged by friends to enter the World Series of Poker's first HORSE event, which had a $50,000 buy-in and consisted of five different poker games rotated every 40 minutes.

At the final table Reese played heads-up with Andy Bloch for a record seven hours and 12 minutes, finally capturing the $1.78 million paycheck in the early morning hours. The event was filmed for ESPN and brought Reese recognition from the casual poker fan base.

"It's pretty nice," Reese told the Review-Journal at the time, admiring the gold and diamond-encrusted bracelet.

"Actually, I think one year that I won, they gave me a watch. I occasionally play in big events at The Venetian and Bellagio, but this is the biggest payday I've ever had in tournament play."

Jeffrey Pollack, a Harrah's vice president who serves as the World Series of Poker commissioner, said Tuesday that Reese's victory made him part of the tournament's lore.

"Many consider Chip the greatest cash-game player who ever lived, but he was also a World Series of Poker legend," Pollack said.

Greenstein said Reese only played in tournaments at the request of his children so they could see him on television. Greenstein said Reese was devoted to his children.

"His kids came first, and he was in a profession where he had the luxury where he could afford to spend time with his kids," Greenstein said.

Reese, who was divorced, is survived by a son, Casey, 19; a daughter, Taylor, 16; and a stepdaughter, Brittney Shea.

Contact reporter Howard Stutz at hstutz@reviewjournal.com or (702) 477-3871.