Poker News / Matthew Pitt / 08 February 2010 / Leave a comment

The 76-year old poker legend, Doyle "Texas Dolly" Brunson looks set to take a back seat from poker, citing health problems as the main reason for doing so.

Brunson was the first player to win $1,000,000 from poker tournaments and has since gone on to collect 10 World Series of Poker bracelets, including two from back-to-back Main Event wins in 1976 and 1977, though he has not won a piece of the coveted poker jewellery since 2005.

Over the years Brunson's health has deteriorated slightly, as would most people of his age, and he now either walks with a crutch or uses a motorised cart to get around the casino. He has not taken part in the Aussie Millions or any of the European Poker Tour events for the past few years as the travelling became too much for him.

He has recently been in London on business but the jet-lag has, in his own words, knocked him to his knees and he feels like a truck has run over him. Couple this with the fact he is undergoing five and a half hours of dental surgery today and it is easy to see why one of poker's true greats is planning on taking a break.

Brunson was due to take part in the Premier League, a WPT event in Los Angeles and the NBC Heads-up Championship in the coming months but has decided not to take part in any of them stating that the standard of competition has become so great that there is no point playing unless you are physically and mentally 100% fit.

In his popular blog, Brunson signed off by highlighting his plans and concerns by saying, "My gut feeling is just chill out until the WSOP and try to have a big series. Could it be my age is finally catching up to me?"

I am sure I am not alone hoping the iconic Doyle Brunson makes it back to the tables sooner rather than later.

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Tags: Doyle Brunson, famous players, poker blogs, Texas Dolly, wsop