Puggy Pearson

Walter Pearson, known more colloquially as Puggy because of a childhood accident that flattened his nose, passed away in 2006, aged 77, after suffering a heart attack.

Pearson was a great poker player who won four World Series of Poker bracelets in his career. As well as being inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 1987, Pearson was regarded as one of the best pool players of his time. He also played golf from scratch but turned down the opportunity to go professional.

Born in Tennessee, Pearson was one of ten children and was brought up under difficult circumstances. He left school in fifth grade and soon joined the US Navy. Whilst serving his three terms, he was introduced to poker.

Although normally a placid character, stories about Pearson falling out with dealers are rife. One time he is reported to have thrown his cards back at a dealer who then beat him about the head with her high heels whilst one of her co-workers held him down. Another time, he supposedly urinated on a dealer.

The majority of stories about Pearson are much more pleasant. He was famous for traveling the country with a tour bus with “Puggy Pearson – Roving Gambler” written on it. He also had the words “I'll play any man from any land any game he can name for any amount I can count” painted on it and slightly lower down, in smaller writing, the sentence “Provided I like it”. He was also known for playing with a lit cigar permanently in his mouth.

His successes at the WSOP came in a short burst at the beginning of the 70s. In 1971, at the second ever WSOP, he won his first bracelet in the Limit Seven Card Stud. Two years later he repeated this feat as well as winning the No Limit Hold ‘em and the No Limit Hold ‘em World Championship, fellow Hall of Famer Johnny Moss came second. The event had only 13 contestants, a huge difference from the thousands entering nowadays.

The fact that Pearson won so much at the early tournaments is a fitting tribute to the man who is often credited with the idea of tournament poker play. Previously, everyone played cash games with the option to leave the table at any time. Pearson shared his idea with Nick Dandolos who in turn told Benny Binion who went on to found the WSOP.

So happy with that his idea had been taken serious, Pearson showed huge interest in the WSOP during his lifetime. He is reported to be the only player to have participated every year from 1970 to 2005 and he is also the only known person to have attended all 37 final tables, up to 2006, of the main event either as a player or spectator.

He is survived by his companion Simin Habibian and his two children, Andrea and Stephen.