Dave Ulliott

The many eccentric poker pros are a big part of what gives this game its enduring universal appeal. By far one of the most intriguing and provocative player backgrounds belongs to long-time English pro, Dave Ulliott.

Ulliott is also commonly referred to as “Devilfish”. A far cry from the middle class online players that are popping up left and right, Ulliott can boast a truly sordid past. The son of a war hero turned trucker, Ulliott dropped out of school as a teen.

Though he initially attempted to make an honest living as a laborer, his affinity for betting eventually led him astray. After a decade of petty crimes and several prison sentences, Ulliott's second wife helped him to leave behind his illicit ways and pursue a more legitimate living.

While many poker fans assume that Ulliott learned how to play cards in prison, the truth is that he learned his first basic card games as a child and later picked up brag as a teen. As both a laborer and later a criminal Ulliott frequently engaged in pick-up games as a means of making extra cash. It wasn't until Ulliott was in his 30's that he realized he could use his card skills to advance himself in a more socially acceptable way.

By the time Ulliott put in his first appearance at a major tournament, his reputation had preceded him. (Perhaps because he often carried a gun to games.) Ulliott made the transition from cash games to tournaments with a big win in 1993. By 1996 he was winning so consistently that he and his backer Gary Whitaker decided to take a trip to Las Vegas. Ulliott came home with a considerable amount of cash and the nickname Devilfish.

The following year Ulliott returned to Las Vegas to compete in his first World Series of Poker. Not only did he finish in the money in three different events, but he won his first bracelet and $180,310 in the WSOP Pot Limit Hold 'em event.

The Devilfish has since made dozens of successful tournament appearances throughout Europe and America. In 2003 he garnered his first World Poker Tour title and a prize of $589,990 when he won the No Limit Hold 'em event at the Jack Binion World Poker Open. Since first appearing on the major tournament scene in 1995, Ulliott has garnered an amazing 120 cashes including 22 first place finishes. He has recently expanded his poker pursuits to include online tournaments.