WSOP legend ‘Amarillo Slim’ beaten and robbed

Poker legend Amarillo Slim has been beaten and robbed of cash and a ring, the value running to $93,000. It has been reported that the 80 year old WSOP tournament poker champion great had been collecting on a poker debt when he was attacked and suffered fractures to his hand, thumb and jaw. Amarillo Slim, real name Thomas Preston was treated in hospital for his injuries. The former WSOP tournament poker Champion has not had the best of luck when it comes to his safety; he was robbed only two years ago at his home, when robbers broke in stealing cash, a belt buckle that was specially made 40 years previous and shotguns. Another attempt to rob the tournament poker star was made in October 2006, when armed robbers in a car attempted to force him to hand over cash, luckily on this occasion the robbers where unsuccessful.

Amarillo Slim born in 1928 in Arkansas has been accredited with winning 5 World Series of Poker bracelets which also includes the WSOP main event in 1972. A well known character in tournament poker circles, there has been talk of a film being made of his colourful life with Nicholas Cage playing the, sometimes outspoken WSOP and Poker Hall of Fame star. The poker legend’s life has not been without controversy as in August 2003 charges where brought against him for indecency with a minor, after a plea bargain Amarillo Slim pleaded guilty to reduced charges of assault and received a $4,000 fine.

Amarillo Slim has been called the greatest poker player that ever lived, although this may not be strictly true he has played poker with some very famous people including Richard Nixon, Lyndon Johnson, Pablo Escobar and Larry Flint the porn king. He is reputed as being a gambler who will bet on anything, even winning £300,000 in a dominoes game against country music singer Willie Nelson.