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Poker World Mourns Passing Of Amarillo Slim
Thomas Austin Preston Jr., better known to the poker world by his unforgettable moniker Amarillo Slim, passed away early on Sunday morning at the age of 83, with the World Series of Poker quickly confirming the sad news on the same day.
A contemporary of Doyle Brunson and Sailor Roberts, Slim was a colourful and entertaining character both on the tables and off them and was famed for his penchant for making – and consistently winning – outrageous prop bets with his peers.
On a poker front, Slim won a total of four gold bracelets in his glittering career, including the 1972 World Series of Poker Main Event, after which Slim embarked on a media campaign to bring poker into the mainstream by appearing on The Tonight Show, Good Morning America and 60 Minutes.
Also a Poker Hall of Fame inductee, since the news broke yesterday Slim’s family have released a statement urging people to cherish his memory, saying: “We hope everyone will remember our beloved Amarillo Slim for all the positive things he did for poker and to popularize his favourite game – Texas Hold’em.”
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