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{{Short description|American poker player (1928–2012)}} | |||
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}} | |||
{{infobox poker player | {{infobox poker player | ||
| |
|name=Amarillo Slim Preston | ||
|lastname=Preston | |||
|nickname=Amarillo Slim | |nickname=Amarillo Slim | ||
|image=AmarilloSlim.jpg | |image=AmarilloSlim.jpg | ||
|caption=Amarillo Slim at the ] |
|caption=Amarillo Slim at the ] | ||
|hometown=Amarillo, Texas | |hometown=Amarillo, Texas | ||
|birth_name = Thomas Austin Preston Jr. | |||
|birth_date = December 31, 1928 | |||
|birth_place=] | |||
|death_date = {{Death date and age|2012|4|29|1928|12|31|mf=yes}} | |||
|death_place=] | |||
|wsop bracelet count=4 | |wsop bracelet count=4 | ||
|wsop money finishes= |
|wsop money finishes=11 | ||
|wsop main event best finish rank=Winner | |wsop main event best finish rank=Winner | ||
|wsop main event best finish year=1972 | |wsop main event best finish year=1972 | ||
|multi-year wsop winner | |||
|wpt titles | |||
|wpt final tables | |||
|wpt money finishes | |||
}} | }} | ||
'''Thomas Austin Preston |
'''Thomas Austin Preston Jr.''' (December 31, 1928 – April 29, 2012), known as '''Amarillo Slim''', was an American professional gambler known for his ] skills and ]s. He won the ] (WSOP) Main Event and was inducted into the ] in 1992.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Poker Hall of Fame |url=http://www.pokerpages.com/pokerinfo/hallofame/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090125045458/http://www.pokerpages.com/pokerinfo/hallofame/ |archive-date=January 25, 2009 |website=PokerPages.com}}</ref> | ||
== |
==Poker career== | ||
Before becoming a well-known tournament player, Preston was a ], touring the United States looking for gambling action along with ] and ].<ref> |
Before becoming a well-known tournament player, Preston was a ], touring the United States looking for gambling action along with ] and ], effectively introducing ], the most popular poker type today, to Las Vegas in the 1960s.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moe |first=Al |date=May 4, 2005 |title=Legends of the Game - Brian "Sailor" Roberts |url=http://www.pokernews.com/news/2005/05/poker-legends-brian-sailor-roberts.htm |access-date=March 30, 2024 |website=PokerNews.com}}</ref> | ||
Following his WSOP |
Preston participated in the first World Series of Poker in ] along with ], ], ], ], ], and ].<ref>{{Cite news |title=World Series of Poker: A Retrospective: 1970 Summary |work=UNLV |url=http://gaming.unlv.edu/WSOP/annual/1970.html |access-date=November 29, 2018 |archive-date=August 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813162800/https://gaming.library.unlv.edu/WSOP/annual/1970.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Following his victory in the 1972 WSOP Main Event, he appeared on several talk shows, including '']'', and had a small part in the 1974 ] movie '']''.<ref>{{IMDb name|0696378|'Amarillo Slim' Preston}}</ref> He appeared on the panel game show '']'', where his secret involved losing $190,000 in one night of poker.<ref>{{Cite web |title=I've Got A Secret (1972) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xfl7VzwYdbg |access-date=April 25, 2018 |website=YouTube}}</ref> | ||
He also founded the tournament series called Amarillo Slim's Super Bowl of Poker, which ran annually between 1979 and 1991.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Amarillo Slim's Life: Biggest Profits, Losses, Private Life & Net Worth |url=http://somuchpoker.com/amarillo-slims-life-biggest-profits-losses-private-life-net-worth/ |website=Somuchpoker.com|date=September 30, 2020 }}</ref> | |||
{{As of|2008}}, Preston has a total of four ]s, including two in ], with his most recent WSOP win in 1990. He has won over $590,000 in tournament play.<ref> from ] website</ref> | |||
Preston won four ]s, including two in ]. Preston's final WSOP win was in ]. In the $2,500 Pot Limit Omaha event at the ], he came in second to ].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hill |first=David |date=July 13, 2017 |title=Phil Ivey's Semi-Bluff |url=https://www.theringer.com/2017/7/13/16077836/phil-ivey-world-series-of-poker-51cd56b8cccf |access-date=November 29, 2018 |website=The Ringer}}</ref> | |||
===Super Bowl of Poker=== | |||
In January/February 1980 Amarillo Slim hosted the |
In January/February 1980, Amarillo Slim hosted the Second Annual Poker Classic, which was the second-most prestigious poker tournament of its time. This series eventually came to be called the ] and continued until 1991. ] became the first winner of this tournament series<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moe |first=Al |date=May 31, 2005 |title=Legends of Poker: Gabe Kaplan |url=https://www.pokernews.com/news/2005/05/poker-legends-gabe-kaplan-1825.htm |access-date=April 7, 2024 |website=PokerNews.com |language=en}}</ref> and ] won the title three times.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Dalla |first1=Nolan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Vzotce35pUoC&pg=PA178 |title=One of a Kind: The Rise and Fall of Stuey ',The Kid', Ungar, The World's Greatest Poker Player |last2=Alson |first2=Peter |date=July 15, 2005 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=9781416510185 |via=Google Books}}</ref> | ||
The video game '']'' was published by ] in 1991.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mobygames.com/game/dos/amarillo-slim-dealers-choice |title = Amarillo Slim Dealer's Choice for DOS (1991) - MobyGames}}</ref> | |||
Preston's lifetime tournament earnings totaled more than $587,000.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Amarillo Slim Preston's profile on The Hendon Mob |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=8 |access-date=April 7, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}</ref> | |||
=== World Series of Poker bracelets === | === World Series of Poker bracelets === | ||
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===Author=== | |||
==Career as author== | |||
In 1973, Preston and |
In 1973, Preston and Bill G. Cox wrote ''Play Poker to Win'', which was published by ]. A revised edition of the book was published by ] in 2005 entitled ''Amarillo Slim's Play Poker to Win''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Amarillo Slim's Play Poker to Win - Amarillo Slim Preston - Paperback |url=https://www.harpercollins.ca/9780060817558/amarillo-slims-play-poker-to-win |access-date=November 29, 2018 |website=HarperCollins Canada |language=en-US}}</ref> | ||
In May 2003, Preston published his autobiography ''Amarillo Slim in a World Full of Fat People'', where he |
In May 2003, Preston published his autobiography ''Amarillo Slim in a World Full of Fat People'', where he wrote of playing poker with ], ], and ] among others. In addition to his poker exploits, Preston wrote about his exploits in ]ting.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last1=Preston |first1=Amarillo Slim |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UyjCz8lRDvcC |title=Amarillo Slim in a World Full of Fat People: The Memoirs of the Greatest Gambler Who Ever Lived |last2=Dinkin |first2=Greg |date=April 26, 2005 |publisher=Harper Collins |isbn=9780060762308 |pages=208 |language=en}}</ref> | ||
In April 2007, Preston |
In April 2007, Preston created a website and released an E-book called ''All In: An E-guide To No Limit Texas Hold'em''. The book was written by Preston along with Joe Brent Riley.<ref>{{Cite web |title=All In: An E-Guide to No Limit Texas Hold'Em by Amarillo Slim Preston |url=https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/all-in-amarillo-slim-preston/1113662875?type=eBook |access-date=November 29, 2018 |website=Barnes & Noble |language=en}}</ref> | ||
==Personal life== | ==Personal life== | ||
Thomas Austin Preston Jr. was born on December 31, 1928, in ]. When he was an infant his parents moved to ]. After they divorced, his mother returned to Johnson, while his father moved to Amarillo. Slim is quoted as saying: "It's a good thing he did, because Amarillo Slim sounds a heck of a lot better than Turkey Tom or Arkansas Austin."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carlson |first=Michael |date=May 4, 2012 |title=Amarillo Slim obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/may/04/amarillo-slim |website=The Guardian}}</ref> Preston was divorced, had three children, and lived in ].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stutz |first=Howard |date=April 29, 2012 |title=Poker icon 'Amarillo Slim' Preston dies at age 83 |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/casinos-gaming/poker-icon-amarillo-slim-preston-83-dies/ |access-date=April 29, 2012 |website=Las Vegas Review-Journal |publisher=lvrj.com}}</ref> | |||
Preston is divorced, has three children, and currently resides in ]. Preston was the best friend of casino owner ]; when Binion died in 1989, he left his horse to Preston.{{fact|date=July 2008}} | |||
Beyond being known as a great poker player, Preston was also known for playing pool, dominoes, and proposition betting. Notably, Slim had beaten ] and ] at dominoes.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Attlesey |first=Sam |date=April 13, 1980 |title=Of Outlaws, con men, whores and Larry King |url= |access-date= |work=Dallas Morning News |pages=188}}</ref> | |||
=== Encounters with the law === | |||
Since 2003 Preston has had several encounters with the law, both as a convicted misdemeanant and as a robbery victim. | |||
In August 2003, Preston was indicted |
In August 2003, Preston was indicted in Randall County, Texas, on charges of indecency with a 12-year-old grandchild.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 12, 2012 |title=Amarillo Slim |url=http://www.economist.com/node/21554486 |access-date=August 30, 2012 |newspaper=]}}</ref> The charges were reduced to misdemeanor assault in a ], and on February 10, 2004, Preston pleaded "no contest" to the reduced charges "to protect his family". Preston received a $4,000 fine, two years probation, and was "ordered to undergo counseling". In a 2009 interview, he stated that he was innocent of any wrongdoing, but chose to take the plea bargain in order to spare his family from a court trial.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=John L. |date=August 12, 2003 |title=Indictment might silence bluster of famed hustler 'Amarillo Slim' |url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2003/Aug-12-Tue-2003/news/21921214.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031210135957/http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2003/Aug-12-Tue-2003/news/21921214.html |archive-date=December 10, 2003 |website=Las Vegas Review-Journal}}</ref><ref name="pokerlistings.com">{{Cite web |date=April 3, 2009 |title=A Legend Lost: Amarillo Slim Breaks his Silence |url=https://www.pokerlistings.com/a-legend-lost-amarillo-slim-breaks-his-silence-pt-1-38457 |access-date=April 7, 2024 |website=PokerListings |language=en}}</ref> | ||
Early on the morning of |
Early on the morning of October 4, 2006, Preston was the victim of an attempted armed robbery. The armed robber fired three bullets into Preston's car as he sped away. Preston was not injured.<ref> from the '']'' website</ref> | ||
On |
On January 28, 2007, Preston was robbed at gunpoint while in his home.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yates |first=Phillip |date=January 30, 2007 |title=Slim robbed |url=http://www.amarillo.com/stories/013007/new_6682210.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927003149/http://www.amarillo.com/stories/013007/new_6682210.shtml |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |website=Amarillo.com}}</ref> | ||
On January 22, 2009, Preston was beaten and robbed near the intersection of Interstate 40 and Soncy Road while attempting to collect a gambling debt.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stecklein |first=Janelle |date=January 22, 2009 |title=Amarillo Slim beaten, robbed |url=http://www.amarillo.com/stories/012209/new_12362001.shtml |access-date=January 22, 2009 |website=Amarillo Globe-News}}</ref> | |||
==Movie Starring Nicholas Cage== | |||
Preston's autobiography was the topic of a ] movie reported to be under development. ] reportedly was to play Preston's character.<ref name="j078">{{cite web | title=Short reels | website=GoUpstate | date=2005-01-28 | url=https://www.goupstate.com/story/news/2005/01/28/short-reels/29746011007/ | access-date=2024-10-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Amarillo Slim - Poker Player Profile |url=http://www.homepokergames.com/slim.php |website=www.homepokergames.com}}</ref> According to a 2009 article at Poker Listings, the "planned Hollywood movie about Slim's life" has been "dropped".<ref name="pokerlistings.com" /> | |||
On January 3rd 2009, ThePlayr.com reported that Nicholas Cage is set to play Preston in an upcoming feature film written by ]<ref>http://www.theplayr.com/en/news/item.asp?id=164 Nicholas Cage to Play Amarillo Slim in Upcoming Movie</ref> | |||
Preston died on April 29, 2012, of ] at the age of 83.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Burton |first=Earl |date=April 29, 2012 |title=Poker Legend "Amarillo Slim" Preston Passes Away |url=https://www.pokernewsdaily.com/poker-legend-amarillo-slim-preston-passes-away-21640/ |access-date=April 7, 2024 |website=Poker News Daily |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Douglas |date=April 30, 2012 |title=Amarillo Slim, Five-Time Poker World Series Winner, Dies at 83 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/01/sports/amarillo-slim-five-time-poker-world-series-winner-dies-at-83.html |access-date=December 4, 2023 |website=The New York Times}}</ref> | |||
==Notes== | |||
<references/> | |||
==References== | |||
{{reflist|2}} | |||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
* in '']'' by ] | |||
* | |||
* | * | ||
* | |||
{{WSOP Main Event champions}} | |||
{{ |
{{1970s WSOP Bracelet Winners}} | ||
{{1980s WSOP Bracelet Winners}} | |||
{{1990s WSOP Bracelet Winners}} | |||
{{Poker Hall of Fame}} | |||
{{Authority control}} | |||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Amarillo Slim}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Amarillo Slim}} | ||
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Latest revision as of 20:27, 26 December 2024
American poker player (1928–2012)
Amarillo Slim Preston | |
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Amarillo Slim at the 1972 WSOP | |
Nickname(s) | Amarillo Slim |
Residence | Amarillo, Texas |
Born | Thomas Austin Preston Jr. December 31, 1928 Johnson, Arkansas |
Died | April 29, 2012(2012-04-29) (aged 83) Amarillo, Texas |
World Series of Poker | |
Bracelet(s) | 4 |
Money finish(es) | 11 |
Highest ITM Main Event finish | Winner, 1972 |
Thomas Austin Preston Jr. (December 31, 1928 – April 29, 2012), known as Amarillo Slim, was an American professional gambler known for his poker skills and proposition bets. He won the 1972 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event and was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 1992.
Poker career
Before becoming a well-known tournament player, Preston was a rounder, touring the United States looking for gambling action along with Doyle Brunson and Sailor Roberts, effectively introducing Texas hold 'em, the most popular poker type today, to Las Vegas in the 1960s.
Preston participated in the first World Series of Poker in 1970 along with Johnny Moss, Sailor Roberts, Doyle Brunson, Puggy Pearson, Crandell Addington, and Carl Cannon. Following his victory in the 1972 WSOP Main Event, he appeared on several talk shows, including The Tonight Show, and had a small part in the 1974 Robert Altman movie California Split. He appeared on the panel game show I've Got a Secret, where his secret involved losing $190,000 in one night of poker.
He also founded the tournament series called Amarillo Slim's Super Bowl of Poker, which ran annually between 1979 and 1991.
Preston won four WSOP bracelets, including two in Omaha. Preston's final WSOP win was in 1990. In the $2,500 Pot Limit Omaha event at the 2000 WSOP, he came in second to Phil Ivey.
In January/February 1980, Amarillo Slim hosted the Second Annual Poker Classic, which was the second-most prestigious poker tournament of its time. This series eventually came to be called the Super Bowl of Poker and continued until 1991. Gabe Kaplan became the first winner of this tournament series and Stu Ungar won the title three times.
The video game Amarillo Slim Dealer's Choice was published by Villa Crespo Software in 1991.
Preston's lifetime tournament earnings totaled more than $587,000.
World Series of Poker bracelets
Year | Tournament | Prize (US$) |
---|---|---|
1972 | $10,000 No Limit Hold'em World Championship | $60,000 |
1974 | $1,000 No Limit Hold'em | $11,100 |
1985 | $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha | $85,000 |
1990 | $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha | $142,000 |
Author
In 1973, Preston and Bill G. Cox wrote Play Poker to Win, which was published by Grosset and Dunlap. A revised edition of the book was published by HarperCollins in 2005 entitled Amarillo Slim's Play Poker to Win.
In May 2003, Preston published his autobiography Amarillo Slim in a World Full of Fat People, where he wrote of playing poker with Larry Flynt, Lyndon Johnson, and Richard Nixon among others. In addition to his poker exploits, Preston wrote about his exploits in proposition betting.
In April 2007, Preston created a website and released an E-book called All In: An E-guide To No Limit Texas Hold'em. The book was written by Preston along with Joe Brent Riley.
Personal life
Thomas Austin Preston Jr. was born on December 31, 1928, in Johnson, Arkansas. When he was an infant his parents moved to Turkey, Texas. After they divorced, his mother returned to Johnson, while his father moved to Amarillo. Slim is quoted as saying: "It's a good thing he did, because Amarillo Slim sounds a heck of a lot better than Turkey Tom or Arkansas Austin." Preston was divorced, had three children, and lived in Amarillo, Texas.
Beyond being known as a great poker player, Preston was also known for playing pool, dominoes, and proposition betting. Notably, Slim had beaten Willie Nelson and Larry King at dominoes.
In August 2003, Preston was indicted in Randall County, Texas, on charges of indecency with a 12-year-old grandchild. The charges were reduced to misdemeanor assault in a plea bargain, and on February 10, 2004, Preston pleaded "no contest" to the reduced charges "to protect his family". Preston received a $4,000 fine, two years probation, and was "ordered to undergo counseling". In a 2009 interview, he stated that he was innocent of any wrongdoing, but chose to take the plea bargain in order to spare his family from a court trial.
Early on the morning of October 4, 2006, Preston was the victim of an attempted armed robbery. The armed robber fired three bullets into Preston's car as he sped away. Preston was not injured.
On January 28, 2007, Preston was robbed at gunpoint while in his home.
On January 22, 2009, Preston was beaten and robbed near the intersection of Interstate 40 and Soncy Road while attempting to collect a gambling debt.
Preston's autobiography was the topic of a biopic movie reported to be under development. Nicolas Cage reportedly was to play Preston's character. According to a 2009 article at Poker Listings, the "planned Hollywood movie about Slim's life" has been "dropped".
Preston died on April 29, 2012, of colon cancer at the age of 83.
References
- "Poker Hall of Fame". PokerPages.com. Archived from the original on January 25, 2009.
- Moe, Al (May 4, 2005). "Legends of the Game - Brian "Sailor" Roberts". PokerNews.com. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
- "World Series of Poker: A Retrospective: 1970 Summary". UNLV. Archived from the original on August 13, 2022. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
- 'Amarillo Slim' Preston at IMDb
- "I've Got A Secret (1972)". YouTube. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
- "Amarillo Slim's Life: Biggest Profits, Losses, Private Life & Net Worth". Somuchpoker.com. September 30, 2020.
- Hill, David (July 13, 2017). "Phil Ivey's Semi-Bluff". The Ringer. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
- Moe, Al (May 31, 2005). "Legends of Poker: Gabe Kaplan". PokerNews.com. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
- Dalla, Nolan; Alson, Peter (July 15, 2005). One of a Kind: The Rise and Fall of Stuey ',The Kid', Ungar, The World's Greatest Poker Player. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9781416510185 – via Google Books.
- "Amarillo Slim Dealer's Choice for DOS (1991) - MobyGames".
- "Amarillo Slim Preston's profile on The Hendon Mob". The Hendon Mob Poker Database. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
- "Amarillo Slim's Play Poker to Win - Amarillo Slim Preston - Paperback". HarperCollins Canada. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
- ^ Preston, Amarillo Slim; Dinkin, Greg (April 26, 2005). Amarillo Slim in a World Full of Fat People: The Memoirs of the Greatest Gambler Who Ever Lived. Harper Collins. p. 208. ISBN 9780060762308.
- "All In: An E-Guide to No Limit Texas Hold'Em by Amarillo Slim Preston". Barnes & Noble. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
- Carlson, Michael (May 4, 2012). "Amarillo Slim obituary". The Guardian.
- Stutz, Howard (April 29, 2012). "Poker icon 'Amarillo Slim' Preston dies at age 83". Las Vegas Review-Journal. lvrj.com. Retrieved April 29, 2012.
- Attlesey, Sam (April 13, 1980). "Of Outlaws, con men, whores and Larry King". Dallas Morning News. p. 188.
- "Amarillo Slim". The Economist. May 12, 2012. Retrieved August 30, 2012.
- Smith, John L. (August 12, 2003). "Indictment might silence bluster of famed hustler 'Amarillo Slim'". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on December 10, 2003.
- ^ "A Legend Lost: Amarillo Slim Breaks his Silence". PokerListings. April 3, 2009. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
- Don't mess with Slim from the Amarillo Globe-News website
- Yates, Phillip (January 30, 2007). "Slim robbed". Amarillo.com. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007.
- Stecklein, Janelle (January 22, 2009). "Amarillo Slim beaten, robbed". Amarillo Globe-News. Retrieved January 22, 2009.
- "Short reels". GoUpstate. January 28, 2005. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
- "Amarillo Slim - Poker Player Profile". www.homepokergames.com.
- Burton, Earl (April 29, 2012). "Poker Legend "Amarillo Slim" Preston Passes Away". Poker News Daily. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
- Martin, Douglas (April 30, 2012). "Amarillo Slim, Five-Time Poker World Series Winner, Dies at 83". The New York Times. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
External links
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