Legendary Poker Player Chip Reese Dies In Vegas
Posted December 11, 2007 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
He made his living on the felt, staring down opponents and making fearless bluffs, but on Tuesday legendary poker player David (Chip) Reese played his final hand. Reese, who was just 56, died in his sleep after a brief bout with pneumonia.
He was found by his son early Tuesday at his home in Las Vegas.
Longtime friend and fellow poker icon Doyle Brunson remembered the charm and intelligence that propelled Reese to the top of the gambling world.
“I knew him for 35 years, I never saw him get mad or raise his voice,” Brunson said. “He had the most even disposition of anyone I’ve ever met. He’s certainly the best poker player that ever lived.”
Reese’s career with cards began while attending Dartmouth College. He was on his way to Stanford in the early 1970s when he stopped by a Las Vegas poker room and ended up turning $400 into more than $60,000. The rest was history.
“He just accidentally stumbled into Las Vegas and never left,” said World Series of Poker media director Nolan Dalla.
Photo courtesy http://www.lasvegasvegas.com
