Hal Fowler

infobox poker player
firstname=Hal
lastname=Fowler
nickname="None"


caption=Hal Fowler at the 1979 World Series of Poker
hometown=
wsop bracelet count=1
wsop money finishes=1
wsop main event best finish rank=Winner
wsop main event best finish year=1979

Hal Fowler (died 2000) was an American poker player. He is considered the first non-professional player to become poker's World Champion. Fact|date=September 2007

Although a relative unknown, Fowler won the 1979 World Series of Poker main event. At one time he was down to around $2,000 in chips (out of over $500,000) at a final table that included Johnny Moss, Bobby Baldwin, and other world class poker players. Additionally, it is believed that Fowler could not cover the entrance fee and Benny Binion had to loan it to him. Fact|date=September 2007 Fowler's 1979 win is sometimes called the greatest upset in the history of the WSOP. Fact|date=September 2007

Fowler defeated Bobby Hoff heads up to win the championship when his 7/6 off suit made a gut-shot straight and defeated Hoff's pocket aces.

Fowler would later fade from the poker scene because of complications from diabetes that hurt his eyesight and his legs. Fact|date=September 2007

It was later found that he died in a nursing home sometime in the year 2000. [ cite web|url=http://www.doylesroom.com/blog/?p=32 |title=DOYLISM OF THE DAY: “Don’t take life too seriously; nobody gets out alive.” |accessdate=2008-06-02 |last=Brunson |first=Doyle |date=2008-04-13 |publisher=doylesroom.com ]

Notes

External links

* [http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=27590 Hendon Mob tournament results]