Thomas Austin Preston Jr. died!

Thomas Austin Preston Jr., better known as "Amarillo Slim" died this morning, 83 years after being hospitalized with little hope of life on April 18.

Born on December 31, 1928, Preston was known for his fearless bets and your skills as a poker player. It was fellow Doyle Brunson and Sailor Roberts, in their times of players in Texas.

Preston won the Main Event World Series of Poker in 1972, where he won the first of his four bracelets. The other came in 1974, a $ 1,000 NLHE event, $ 5,000 PLO in 1985 and in 1990 a $ 5,000 PLO.

After winning the Main Event in 1972, Preston helped make poker more often known by appearing on television shows like The Tonight Show, Good Morning America and 60 Minutes.

Preston continued to play poker to an old enough respeitáveil and their most recent result of 2000, when he finished second in the 31 th Annual World Series of Poker $ 2,500 PLO against Phil Ivey in a duel symbolic of the old guard and new school.

In 1992, his achievements were immortalized in the Poker Hall of Fame and this, without forgetting their contribution to the literature of poker. In 1973 launched the Play Poker to Win, later reissued as Amarillo Slim's Play Poker to Win, and his autobiography "Amarillo Slim in a World full of fat people" was launched in 2003.

The family issued a statement on the passing of this legend:

"We hope that our dear Amarillo Slim is remembered for all things positive things he did for poker and helped popularize his favorite game - Texas Hold'em."