Poker Legends - Puggy Pearson

Walter Clyde Pearson - more endearingly known as Puggy, because of his pug-like nose - has an important place in the history of poker.

After dropping out of school in the 5th grade, Pearson lived a tough life before joining the Navy when he was seventeen. His three terms in the service was a breeding ground for his poker and gambling skills, although the discipline of the armed forces did not always shine through in his demeanor at the table.

Known to have abused dealers on more than one occasion, Pearson had his faults. But if it wasn't for Pearson, the freezeout tournament as we know it, would probably not even exist. No only did he come up with the idea, he shared it with others, and the World Series of Poker was later formed.

Pearson won his first WSOP in 1973, and later took home four WSOP bracelets. In 1987 he was considered one of the best poker players  in the world and was conducted in the Poker Hall of Fame. Seven-card poker was considered his best game. Pearson passed away in 2006 at the age of seventy-seven.