The poker industry mourned the loss of one of its greatest players, David “Chip” Reese who died early Tuesday morning at the young age of 56. Reese was apparently suffering from pneumonia complications and died in his sleep.

He was discovered by his son in his Las Vegas home. Reese is survived by his two grown children, a stepdaughter and his ex-wife.

Reese was a well-known figure on the poker circuit as part of a group of players from the 1970s who took the game to greater heights. He was friends with poker legend Doyle Brunson for over 35 years, who he continually challenged throughout the years in the way he played the game.

The two became business partners, investing in a wide range of unsuccessful ventures that never quite took off the ground. Brunson said this week that Chip Reese was the greatest player who had ever lived. He also commented that it was good that he and Reese had poker to fall back on because of their poor business sense in those early years. 

Reese accidentally discovered the game of poker after traveling from Dartmouth College to Stanford University . His long-time friend, WSOP media director Nolan Dalla said: “He just accidentally stumbled into Las Vegas and never left”.   

“Chip” Reese became a World Series of Poker legend after winning no less than three bracelets in the past forty years. His focus was always on high-stakes games that happened away from the spotlights and his cool demeanor and easy-going personality won him many fans throughout the years. Many have commented how he would handle thousand-dollar chip stacks as if he was only wagering “a few bucks”.  

Reese’s greatest victory by far was the 2005 World Series of Poker HORSE event to the tune of $1.8-million, with a buy-in of $50,000. WSOP commissioner, Jeffrey Pollack, said in a statement this week that the HORSE game – which combines five poker disciplines – “made him part of WSOP lore forever”. 

Author:  Renee Kingsley