Doyle Brunson Retires From WSOP Tournament Play

Doyle Brunson in action. (Image: PokerNews.com)

The poker community was dealt a blow on Tuesday when the living legend that is Doyle Brunson announced he would no longer be competing in tournaments at the World Series of Poker. This is not the first time Brunson has retired from WSOP action, but this time he may stick to his guns.

In recent years, Brunson has played fewer and fewer tournaments at the WSOP, using his lack of endurance as the main reason. Seventy-nine year old Brunson only played seven events at the 2011 WSOP and just four at last year's series. His combined buy-ins for the 2011-12 WSOP only came to $160,500, very different from his volume in previous years.

Brunson has won 10 WSOP bracelets in his long and illustrious career. He won his first in 1976 and his tenth in 2005.

Doyle Brunson's WSOP Victories

1976 - $5,000 Deuce-to-Seven Draw - $80,250
1976 - $10,000 No Limit Hold'em World Championship - $230,000
1977 - $1,000 Seven-card Stud Split - $62,500
1977 - $10,000 No Limit Hold'em World Championship - $340,000
1978 - $5,000 Seven-Card Stud - $68,000
1979 - $600 Mixed Doubles - $4,500
1991 - $2,500 No Limit Hold'em - $208,000
1998 - $1,500 Seven-Card Razz - $93,000
2003 - $2,000 H.O.R.S.E - $84,080
2005 - $5,000 Short-Handed No Limit Hold'em - $367,800

In addition to his aging years, Brunson has had to deal with his health deteriorating. In March 2011, Brunson had a tumour removed from one of his arms. Then in November 2012, Brunson revealed he was fighting a battle with cancer for the fourth time in his life. Thankfully, he seems to have made a full recovery but no longer has the endurance to sit and play poker tournaments for 11-hours per day seven days per week.

"Afraid I am finally gonna give in to Father Time and pass on tournament play at WSOP. #toomanyhours," read the Tweet that announced Brunson's decision to retired from WSOP tournaments.

As mentioned, Brunson has previously retired from tournament poker only to return to the felt. Shortly after his 17th place finish at the 2009 WSOP Europe Main Event, ironically Brunson's last WSOP cash, Brunson stated he would not be travel far from Las Vegas to play poker because the traveling was taking its toll on him. Brunson was true to his word and has not played in Europe since.

At last year's WSOP, Brunson said he was only going to play cash games during the series, but managed to find the strength to play in four bracelet events - mainly the high stakes mixed games. At the annual WSOP conference call, the organisers of the WSOP hoped Brunson would play in the $10,000 Main Event as a last hurrah. Here's hoping Brunson does compete one last time, the WSOP would not be the same without him in it.

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