Stu Ungar - 1980 and 1981 WSOP Main Event Titles

1980 and 1981 WSOP Main Event Titles

In 1980 Ungar entered the World Series of Poker (WSOP) looking for more high-stakes action. In an interview for the 1997 Main Event Final Table, Ungar told ESPN TV commentator Gabe Kaplan that the 1980 WSOP was the first time he had ever played a Texas hold'em tournament. (Ungar's first tournament, however, was the 1980 Super Bowl of Poker main event, which Kaplan himself won. Stu finished 34th of 41 players.) Poker legend Doyle Brunson remarked that it was the first time he had seen a player improve as the tournament went on.

Ungar won the main event, defeating Brunson to become the youngest champion in its history (surpassed first by Phil Hellmuth in 1989, then others). Ungar looked even younger than he was, and was dubbed "The Kid."

Ungar would defend his title successfully at the 1981 WSOP by defeating Perry Green. Ungar nearly was not allowed to defend his title. Several days before the main event, he was banned from Binion's Horseshoe by Benny Binion because he spat in the face of a dealer after losing a sizeable pot in a high stakes game. It was only when Binion's son, Jack, interceded and convinced his father to let Ungar play, citing the media attention that the defending champion would attract.