Doyle Brunson Will Not Play at 2017 WSOP

(Photo: Americascardroom.eu)

Although he previously hinted that he was considering a return to tournament action at this year's World Series of Poker, it appears that Doyle Brunson has decided against entering any 2017 WSOP events.

When asked on social media to give the odds on playing in at least one tournament, Brunson had this to say:

It seems likely that the octogenarian who was among the seven players competing in the first ever WSOP in 1970 will remain a 10-time WSOP bracelet champion when his career does eventually come to an end. Texas Dolly is tied with Johnny Chan and Phil Ivey in the WSOP title chase and the trio trail only Phil 'Poker Brat' Hellmuth, who leads the pack with 14 victories.

Legendary

Brunson's last cash in WSOP tournament action came in the Main Event in 2013 when he finished 409th, good for $28,063. His last bracelet was captured in 2005 in $5,000 Short Handed NLHE where he topped 301 entries to win $367,800.

Doyle earned his first WSOP title at the 7th annual summer series in 1976, outplaying the miniscule field of 22 in the $10K Main Event to earn $220K under a winner-take-all format. The same year he won bracelet no. 2 in $5,000 No Limit Deuce to Seven Draw for $80,250.

Two more titles followed in 1977, including the Main Event where the entries increased to 34 players who plunked down $10K to take a seat in a failed effort to dethrone the reigning champ. Brunson grabbed another WSOP championship in 1978, this time in $5,000 Seven Card Stud.

Cold Cash Wins Over Cold Conditions

Although the 83-year-old has been MIA from tournament play in recent years, he remains a regular at the high stakes cash games in Bobby's Room at the Bellagio. The ability to play the number of hours he desires appears to weigh heavily in that decision, as does, perhaps, the temperature in the Rio poker rooms.

While poker fans will surely miss Texas Dolly at the WSOP, they can still thank him for helping to shape the festival into becoming the booming series that it is today.