Poker Pro John Bonetti Passes Away
John Bonetti, a three-time World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner, has died of cancer in his hometown of Houston at the age of 80.
He won his final bracelet again in the $5,000 Deuce-To-Seven Draw event in 1995 and had career earnings in excess of four million dollars alongside 20 WSOP final table appearances. “From the outside eyes he was a very misunderstood guy,” said Al Barbieri.
“He had no problem telling his feelings or sharing his thoughts. Sometimes he’d out of line, with the f-word and stuff, but when he got away from the table this was a man who was very generous. He had a heart as big as this room. He was like a real teddy bear.
“He helped me all my ten years I’ve been winning. He was a great poker and made me a great poker player. I owe all my success to him.”
Diagnosed in 1993 with both spinal and prostate cancer, Bonetti didn’t slow down and cashed four times, all wins, between November of 1993 and February of 1994. He repeated his third place finish at the WSOP Main Event in 1996 and had 32 cashes at the WSOP in his career. He also finished on the television final table bubble of the World Poker Tour’s World Poker Open in 2004.
Bonetti was inducted into the Seniors Hall of Fame in 2001 and called poker ‘the greatest game in the world’, stressing that a player was never too old to learn the game or keep getting better at it.
6 comments
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Posted by Martin – 3 Jul 2008, 4:42 AM
Its really sad when someone passes that we think might have a little more left in them. You know he could have ended up still running miles around some of the younger generations.
Posted by gamblingfool – 2 Jul 2008, 5:16 PM
Bonetti was definitely one of the greatest poker players in the history of the game. Still playing and winning at the age of 70 - gotta give the man credit for stamina. He fought a long, hard battle with his cancer and certainly lived a lot longer than most would have after that kind of dual diagnosis. He will be missed.
Posted by tattyteddy – 2 Jul 2008, 5:31 AM
Wow, thats an amazing list of accomplishments. To have done so much even after getting diagnosed with cancer is simply stunning. The gambling world will surely miss him.
Posted by Pamela – 2 Jul 2008, 5:40 AM
John was a true icon in the gambling world. I also read that he was once punished for swearing during the break of a Tournament of Champions event
Posted by Jaclyn – 2 Jul 2008, 7:35 PM
He had so many accomplishments. It's a shame he is gone, but at 80, he's lived a good life!
Posted by KaysMoney – 2 Jul 2008, 5:04 AM
He lived a long and succesful life. Rest in peace John. Hope you have some great eternal hands to play.