It is an unfortunate but undeniable truth about the world of big stakes poker that triumph and tragedy often go hand in hand. There are a number of notable players who, for any number of personal reasons, are unable to handle the dizzying fame and fortune that befalls a person when he or she becomes a poker celebrity. And, if one has what it takes to win the main event at the World Series of Poker, the temptations and pitfalls become even more treacherous. There is no more poignant example of this danger than the story of Stu Ungar.

Stu Ungar was born in 1953 and before he had reached puberty was already deeply involved in the world of gambling. His father introduced him to some questionable elements in society, but there's no doubt that through this exposure Ungar achieved a level of mastery at an age when most boys barely know how to shuffle a deck of cards. Stu spent much of his teenage years playing gin rummy in money tournaments all over New York, racking up at least $190,000 in winnings. In 1976, he made a fortuitous move to Las Vegas. It was in this city that he would reach his greatest heights - and eventually his downfall.

In the year 1980, Stu first entered the World Series of Poker. Shattering all expectations, he charged ahead to win the main event, becoming the youngest person ever to do so at that time. He was immediately dubbed "Stuey the Kid," a name which he despised but was unable to shake. Perhaps emboldened by the fact that so many discarded him as a fluke, Ungar went on to win a second consecutive title in 1981.

Known to be a card counter of unusual skill, Ungar's mind was one of the sharpest to ever be found at the tables. However, perhaps because he was never able to slow down the internal counting machine, he eventually sought solace in drugs. By the end of the 1980s, he was flirting with a full-blown addiction and his play was starting to suffer as a result. It was widely predicted, with great sadness, that he would not live to see his 40th birthday.

Amazingly, Ungar staged a shocking comeback in 1997 when he once again won the main event at the World Series of Poker. But it was a short high and before a year had passed he was once again in serious financial trouble. He was found dead in 1998 in a seedy Vegas motel room, with less than a thousand dollars as his total savings. He had not overdosed, per say, but clearly the ravages of many years of drug use had beaten his body to a point of no recovery.

Despite his tragic demise, Stu Ungar is still remember and widely talked about as being one of the greatest ever to play the game. The tortured champion has gained immortality and hopefully found some peace in the afterlife that was unavailable to him on Earth.