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Revision as of 22:05, 27 January 2008
| Amarillo Slim | |
|---|---|
 Amarillo Slim at the 1974 WSOP | |
| Nickname(s) | Amarillo Slim |
| Residence | Amarillo, Texas |
| World Series of Poker | |
| Bracelet(s) | 4 |
| Money finish(es) | 9 |
| Highest ITM Main Event finish | Winner, 1972 |
Thomas Austin Preston, Jr. (born December 31, 1928 in Johnson, Arkansas), known as Amarillo Slim, is a professional gambler, famous for his poker skills and proposition bets. He won the main event at the World Series of Poker in 1972.
Professional poker player
Before becoming a well known face and tournament poker player, Preston was a rounder and toured the United States looking for gambling action along with Doyle Brunson and Sailor Roberts.
Following his victory he went on several talk shows, and even had a bit part in the Robert Altman movie California Split, making him moderately famous outside the poker world. He has appeared on The Tonight Show 11 times, Good Morning America, 60 Minutes, I've Got a Secret, The Tomorrow Show, Panorama, Georgia Today, and A. M. Los Angeles.
As of 2007, Preston has a total of four WSOP bracelets, including two in Omaha, and has won over $590,000 in tournament play. He was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 1992.
His secret for his 1972 appearance on I've Got a Secret involved losing $190,000 in one night of playing poker.
Super Bowl of Poker
In January and February of 1980 Amarillo Slim hosted the Second Annual Poker Classic which became the second most prestigious poker tournament during its time. This series would eventually be called the Super Bowl of Poker (SBOP) and would continue until 1990. Gabe Kaplan became the first tournament winner of this series.
By the end of the tournament series legendary poker player Stu Ungar had won the title 3 times leading Slim to say "Stu musta won a jillion dollars in my tournaments".
Tales of a legend
Preston was the best friend of casino owner Benny Binion. On Preston's publicity run after his 1972 win he convinced Tom Snyder, host of The Tomorrow Show that came on right after The Tonight Show, to allow Preston, Binion, and Joe Bernstein to have the entire show. Binion didn't care to be in the public spotlight, but Preston convinced him to do it. When Binion died in 1989, he left his horse to Preston.
Preston is often misquoted as saying that if a woman ever won the WSOP, he'd slit his throat, but the true story is quite different. During some of the early WSOP events an unpopular woman player got an early chip lead and declared that she was going to be the winner in front of the media. When she asked Preston what he thought of it, he told her that if she won he would slit his throat. She ultimately did not win.
Preston has also helped establish gaming facilities around the world. While he was helping open the Casino de Caribe in Colombia he was kidnapped by people working for Pablo Escobar, who mistook him for another person, but was eventually released.
Recent events
In May 2003, Preston published his autobiography Amarillo Slim in a World Full of Fat People, where he revealed tales of playing poker with Larry Flynt, Lyndon Johnson, and Richard Nixon, among others.
In August 2003, Preston was indicted on three charges of indecency with his 12-year-old granddaughter. The charges were reduced to misdemeanor assault in a plea bargain and on February 10, 2004, he pled guilty to the reduced charges, receiving a $4,000 fine and two years deferred adjudication.
A film based on Preston's career, entitled "Amarillo Slim", is currently being developed to be directed by Miloš Forman, with Nicolas Cage slated to play him.
Early on the morning of October 4th, 2006, Preston was approached on a street by a would-be robber. He sped away, but not before the gunman fired three bullets at his car. Preston was not injured.
On January 28th, 2007, Preston was robbed at gun point in his own home.
In April 2007, Preston opened a website and released an E-Book All In: An E-guide To No Limit Texas Hold'em, by Amarillo Slim Preston with Brent Riley.
Preston is divorced, has three children, and currently resides in Amarillo, Texas.
World Series of Poker Bracelets
| Year | Tournament | Prize (US$) |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Publications
- (with Bill G. Cox) Play poker to win, Grosset and Dunlap, 1973, republished in 2005 by HarperCollins in a revised edition as Amarillo Slim's play poker to win: million dollar strategies from the legendary world series of poker winner
- Amarillo Slim in a World Full of Fat People, 2003
- All In: An E-guide To No Limit Texas Hold'em, by Amarillo Slim Preston with Brent Riley, 2007
Notes
- Hendon Mob tournament results
- Poker News Gabe Kaplan
- One of a Kind: The Rise and Fall of Stuey
- Las Vegas Review Journal
- IMDb: Amarillo Slim
- Amarillo.com
- Amarillo.com
External links
| World Series of Poker – Main Event champions | |
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