Thomas Austin "Amarillo Slim" Preston Jr. has died.
The world of Poker has taken a hit today, as Thomas Austin "Amarillo Slim" Preston Jr. has died. The poker great, who won the 1972 World Series of Poker Main Event, died on Sunday, April 29, at the age of 83, after a battle with colon cancer, according to the Associated Press. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A

The world of Poker has taken a hit today, as Thomas Austin Amarillo Slim Preston Jr. has died.

The poker great, who won the 1972 World Series of Poker Main Event, died on Sunday, April 29, at the age of 83, after a battling colon cancer, according to the Associated Press.

Preston Jr. was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 1992 and acquired the nickname Amarillo Slim by playing Pool, his son, Bunky Preston, told AP.

Before becoming a well-known tournament player, Preston was a rounder, touring the United States looking for gambling action along with the likes of Doyle Brunson and Sailor Roberts.

In the $2,500 pot limit Omaha event at the 2000 World Series of Poker, Preston came in second to Phil Ivey.

Preston won four WSOP bracelets including two in Omaha. His final WSOP win was in 1990 where he took home $5,000 in a Pot Limit game of Omaha.

Preston's tournament earnings total more than $587,000.

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