The legendary poker player Doyle "Texas Dolly" Brunson
took home over a million dollars last week when he won the Bicycle
Casino Legends of Poker Tournament in Los Angeles.
It
was the biggest prize pool in World Poker Tour history at $3,335,000,
attracting 667 players and doubling the size and the prize pool of
the casino's WPT event last season.
Last year's event drew 309 players and generated a prize pool of $1,545,000,
with the winner scooping $579,375.
As 2004 winner of the $5,000 buy-in event, Doyle Brunson is an old-time
road gambler who's been playing poker for 50 years. He has 2 World
Series Championships and was the first to pass the million-dollar
mark at the WSOP and is considered a savvy pro and a gentleman at
the tables.
Brunson will now advance to the WPT
Championship at the end of the season in April 2005, held at the
Bellagio in Las Vegas.
The top 60 Legends of Poker finishers shared in the total prize pool.
Some of the most recognizable faces playing at the tables included
Legends of Poker defending champion Mel Judah, Paul Phillips, Phil
Hellmuth, Howard Lederer and Phil Laak. Also counting their chips
were actors Ben Affleck, James Woods and Tobey Maguire together with
WPT newcomer Matthew Perry ("Friends"). The event drew a
large contingent of the top women pros including Clonie Gowen, Annie
Duke, and Jennifer Harman.