Profiling Thomas "Amarillo Slim" Preston

Amarillo Slim was born on December 31st, 1928 and is a massive name in the early history of American poker. He traveled and played with Sailor Roberts and Doyle Brunson during the 1960s as a road gambler but was the first poker player to use his natural charisma to become well-known on the mainstream media at a time when being a poker celebrity and poker guru was completely unheard of.

Slim started life in the army and was a master of the prop bet. He was also a top Pool player and table tennis champion. He had a knack of always putting the bet into his favor once betting an opponent he could beat them at Table Tennis with a frying pan. His opponent was soundly beaten, not realizing Slim had been practicing with a frying pan for over six months.

Slim was a prominent part of early World Series of Poker* tournaments, winning four bracelets between 1972 and 1990, including the main event in 1972. Slim capitalized on his success as a professional poker master by writing a poker book titled "Play Poker to Win" and re-released this book in an updated form in 2005. His autobiography "Amarillo Slim in a World Full of Fat People" was published in May 2003 in which he discussed playing poker with Richard Nixon and his array of prop betting experiences.

At the 2009 World Series of Poker Doyle Brunson and Amarillo Slim showed they could still have a good time by racing each other in their senior citizens scooters around the casino. Slim is no stranger to controversy. He was badly beaten in 2009 when trying to collect a gambling debt and had shots fired at his car in 2007 when an attempted armed robbery failed. He was not injured. Slim continues to appear each year at the World Series of Poker and is now approaching his 82nd birthday.

* The World Series of Poker and WSOP are trademarks of Harrah's License Company, LLC ("Harrah's"). Harrah's does not sponsor or endorse, and is not associated or affiliated with Titan Poker or its products, services promotions or tournaments.