When you attribute words like pioneer, legendary and “The Godfather” to a person, you can presume that there’s quite a lengthy history to that individual. In poker, Doyle Brunson is such described individual. The newly formed Epic Poker League presented Brunson with a Lifetime Membership Card this week in a ceremony that commenced just before the start of the league’s third tournament in their inaugural season. While every other poker player in the world must keep producing high caliber results in order to qualify for their inclusion in the league, Brunson, has been exempted from this process.
To understand why Brunson is so significant to poker, you have to travel back in time to an era when poker games were hidden and scattered in remote places. Today, the business of poker is one of the largest grossing industries in the world and Brunson has lived through it and campaigned for it every step of the way. He has seen its revolution and in it, has spearheaded the efforts of poker’s legitimization as one of its single most recognizable ambassadors.
Brunson has won ten World Series of Poker events, two of them being the series’ most prestigious and sought after Main Event titles. In both championship winning hands, Brunson held the unlikely winning hole cards (the two cards that a player receives at the start of each hand) of a ten and a two. Both times the ten-two hole cards prevailed and made a full house to beat his opponent’s two pair. To this day, amateur and professional players alike refer to the ten-two hole cards combination as “The Brunson”.
Brunson’s book, Doyle Brunson’s Super System: A Course in Power Poker, has been widely regarded as the “Bible of Poker”. What’s significant about Brunson is that not only is his career regarded as stellar, but his knowledge of poker strategy is regarded as some of the best poker truths in existence today. In poker, there is the usual debate on what should or shouldn’t be done in a certain situation, yet Brunson’s advice in style and in play is treasured amongst both veterans and newcomers.
The Epic Poker Lifetime Membership that was awarded to Brunson means that he will always be guaranteed entrance into any Epic Poker event. All other players have and continue to remain qualified to enter Epic Poker events through the Global Poker Index, a rigorous qualification system created and set forth by the league’s parent company, Federated Sports and Gaming. While little justification is needed for those who are familiar with poker’s history, Annie Duke, commissioner of the Epic Poker League reaffirmed their selection by saying, “Doyle Brunson epitomizes excellence and class in poker and we’re honored to award him with the league’s first lifetime membership. There is no better player or person to receive a Lifetime Card and we look forward to welcoming Doyle to many future Epic Poker events.”
While Brunson’s place in poker is undisputable, he takes no recognition lightly, he accepts the accolades with gratitude and is humbled. “I gladly accept this lifetime membership card,” said Brunson. “Epic Poker is taking our game to the next level and I’m honored to be part of this league and think every player should support it. It is humbling to be recognized as a pioneer in this incredible game and it has been my life-long passion to help take poker to the highest level possible,” added Brunson.
It will be hard pressed to find anyone who doesn’t support Epic Poker’s decision to award Brunson with a Lifetime Membership. This is why Brunson is so significant to poker’s past, present and future.
Annie Duke and Doyle Brunson quote issued by Epic Poker League press release