Chip Reese Dead at Age 56

David “Chip” Reese, born in Dayton Ohio in 1951, is dead. Widely regarded as one of the best poker players in the world and the youngest player inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame, he died in his sleep last night, reportedly of complications due to pneumonia.
Reese won three World Series of Poker Bracelets, including the inaugural $50,000 buy-in HORSE event at the 2006 World Series of Poker. He might have won more, but preferred big money, high-stakes cash games to tournament poker.

Reese graduated from Dartmouth College with a degree in economics and was accepted into Stanford University law school. On his way out to California in 1974 Reese stopped off in Las Vegas to play poker. After winning $60,000 he decided to skip law school and play poker for a living, and when asked about his decision, he uttered the now immortal line, “Law doesn't have the same monetary incentive as poker."

R.I.P. Chip Reese 1951 – 2007.