Nationality
Walter Clyde "Puggy" Pearson was an American poker player and United States citizen.
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Born (date and place of birth)
Walter Clyde Pearson was born on January 29, 1929, in Adairville, Kentucky, USA.
Residence (current location)
Walter Pearson primarily resided in the United States during his lifetime, often described as a "roving gambler" due to his constant travel to play poker. He passed away in 2006.
Education (institution, specialization)
Pearson dropped out of school in the fifth grade to help support his family, and no formal post-primary education or specialization is recorded.
Children (number, ages)
There is no publicly available verified information about Walter Pearson’s children or family details.
Year started playing poker
Walter Pearson began playing poker seriously by the early 1950s, gaining prominence as a professional by the first WSOP in 1970.
Age when started playing
He likely began serious poker involvement in his early to mid-20s during or shortly after his Navy service.
Year turned professional
Pearson was a professional poker player by 1970, coinciding with the inaugural World Series of Poker.
First major win (amount, tournament, year)
His first major tournament victory was the 1971 WSOP Limit Seven-Card Stud event, where he won his first bracelet.
Who introduced to poker / first mentor
No specific mentor is recorded; Pearson was a pioneer alongside contemporaries like Amarillo Slim and Doyle Brunson.
First important tournament
Pearson’s first important tournament was the inaugural WSOP in 1970.
Main motivation for turning pro
Motivated by being a "roving gambler," he sought the biggest games and challenges, driven by passion for gambling and competition.
Initial bankroll
No exact details are available; early bankroll likely came from winnings in pool hustling and gambling during his Navy tenure.
Poker education (courses, coaches)
Pearson had no formal poker education, learning through long-term experience in cash games and gambling.
First sponsor/backing
There is no record of sponsorship deals as such contracts were uncommon in his era.
Total live tournament winnings
Walter Pearson’s live tournament winnings exceed approximately $470,000.
Number of tournament wins
He won four WSOP bracelets, including three in 1973, validating multiple significant tournament victories.
Number of final tables
He made numerous WSOP final tables, including Main Event final tables in 1971, 1972, and 1973.
Largest tournament win (amount, tournament, year)
His largest tournament win was the 1973 WSOP Main Event, with a prize of $130,000.
WSOP bracelets (number)
Four WSOP bracelets: one in 1971 (Limit Seven-Card Stud), and three in 1973 (including Main Event).
WSOP cashes (number)
Multiple WSOP cashes from 1970 to 2005.
WSOP final tables
Multiple WSOP final tables, including 2nd place finishes in Main Event 1971 and 1972, and 1st in 1973.
Best WSOP Main Event result
Won the WSOP Main Event in 1973 (1st place).
Super high roller results ($100K+)
No known results in $100K+ buy-in Super High Roller events.
High roller wins ($25K-$100K)
No recorded high roller wins in $25K-$100K range.
Online tournament winnings
No online winnings; career predated online poker.
Major online titles
No significant online victories.
Poker team
No affiliations with poker teams or stables.
Main cash game limits
Played in high-stakes cash games typical of his era; specific limits undocumented.
Highest stakes played
Precise highest stakes played are unknown but recognized as a high-stakes player.
Notable high stakes sessions
No publicly documented notable cash game sessions.
"Big Game" participation
No participation in televised "Big Game" series.
Estimated cash game profits (if known)
No public estimates of cash game profits.
Country ranking
Considered one of the top American players from his era.
All Time Money List position
No official All Time Money List position available due to era.
Tournament ROI (if known)
ROI data unavailable.
Average tournament win
No reliable data on average tournament winnings.
ITM percentage
In-the-money percentage unknown.
Final table percentage from cashes
Multiple WSOP final tables from cashes suggest a strong final table rate.
Statistics by year (best/worst year)
Peak years early 1970s, especially 1973; active in WSOP through 2005.
Main discipline (Hold'em, Omaha, Mixed games)
Specialized mainly in No-Limit Hold’em and Seven-Card Stud.
Format specialization (tournaments/cash/online/live)
Focused on live tournaments and cash games in No-Limit Hold’em and Stud.
Preferred table size (6-max, full ring, heads-up)
Played primarily full ring tables customary in his era.
Known formats (NLHE, PLO, HORSE, others)
No-Limit Hold’em, Limit Seven-Card Stud, and Razz.
Specialization limits
Predominantly high-stakes cash and tournament games typical of the era.
Online rooms where plays
No online presence.
Favorite casinos/locations
Frequently played in Las Vegas, notably Benny Binion’s Horseshoe Club.
Style characterization (TAG, LAG, nitty, aggressive)
Known for ultra-aggressive, sometimes wild play style.
Known for bluffs/traps
Recognized for aggressive betting and bluffing tactics.
Mathematical or intuitive approach
Played with strong intuition and experience rather than formal mathematical models.
Style adaptability
Highly adaptable, able to compete against varied opponents in diverse conditions.
Playing strengths
Aggression, psychological pressure, and deep game understanding.
GTO strategy usage
Used no formal Game Theory Optimal strategies; these developed after his era.
Poker software usage
No use of poker software.
Television appearances (list of shows with specific episodes/dates)
No known poker TV show appearances.
High Stakes Poker participation (seasons/episodes)
Did not participate in High Stakes Poker series.
Poker After Dark appearances (episodes/dates)
No Poker After Dark appearances.
Documentary films featuring (titles and links)
Featured in historical documentaries on early WSOP and poker legends.
Major publication interviews (publication names, article titles, links)
Featured in poker publications and the book “The Championship Table” by Tom Schneider.
Podcast appearances (podcast names, episode titles, dates, links)
No podcast guest appearances.
Own podcast/channel (name, platform, subscriber count, link)
No personal poker podcast.
Facebook (account link)
No official Facebook page.
YouTube channel (name, subscriber count, link)
No personal YouTube channel.
Twitch channel (name, follower count, link)
No Twitch streaming channel.
TikTok presence (account link, follower count)
No TikTok presence.
LinkedIn profile (link)
No LinkedIn profile.
Posting frequency in social media
No social media activity due to his era.
Type of content in social media
Not applicable.
Current sponsors (company names, deal details if public)
No sponsorships recorded; typical for his time.
Sponsorship contract history (previous sponsors, dates)
None documented.
Poker site ambassadorship (site names, contract details)
None.
Own business (business names, descriptions, websites)
No known poker-related businesses.
Poker project investments (project names, involvement details)
None documented.
Coaching services (availability, platforms used)
No records of coaching services.
Coaching rates (if public)
Not applicable.
Educational materials (book titles with ISBN, course names with platforms, video series titles with links)
Did not create educational poker content.
Affiliate programs (program names, partnerships)
No affiliate partnerships.
Merchandise (product types, where sold, links)
No personal merchandise offerings.
Written poker books (titles, publication years, ISBN, publisher)
Did not author books but featured in extensive poker literature.
Training series participation (series names, platforms, links)
None.
Masterclasses and seminars (event names, dates, locations)
None.
Coaching work (platforms used, student testimonials)
None documented.
Notable students (names if public, their achievements)
None notable.
YouTube educational content (video titles, view counts, links)
No educational videos.
Poker publication articles (publication names, article titles, publication dates, links)
Appeared in various poker magazine features and articles on poker history.
Magazine columns (magazine names, column titles, frequency)
No regular columns.
Conference speaking (conference names, dates, topics, video links)
No known engagements.
Poker scandal involvement (scandal names, details, outcomes)
No scandals.
Accusations of unfair play (specific incidents, resolutions)
No cheating accusations.
Casino/room conflicts (venue names, incident details)
None reported.
Legal proceedings (case details, outcomes, court documents)
None known.
Public disputes with colleagues (names involved, details)
None recorded.
Tournament rule violations (tournament names, violations, penalties)
None known.
Tax issues (if public, details, resolutions)
None documented.
Poker community criticism (specific criticisms, responses)
No notable criticism documented.
Response to criticism (statements, actions taken)
Not applicable.
Poker industry awards (award names, years, organizations)
Inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 1987.
Hall of Fame inclusion (hall names, induction years)
Poker Hall of Fame inductee, 1987.
Peer recognition (specific recognitions, award details)
Regarded as a pioneer and influential player in poker history.
Poker publication awards (publication names, award types, years)
No known poker publication awards.
Special achievements (achievement descriptions, recognition details)
Credited with inventing the freezeout tournament format and first to win three WSOP events in one year (1973).
Records associated with name (record descriptions, verification)
First player to win three WSOP events in a single year; attended every WSOP from 1970 to 2005.
Contribution to poker development (specific contributions, recognition)
Major contributions include creating the freezeout tournament format and helping establish the WSOP.
Charity tournaments (tournament names, amounts raised, beneficiaries)
No recorded participation in charity poker events.
Legacy in poker world (specific legacy aspects, community impact)
Left a lasting legacy as a WSOP pioneer and the inventor of modern freezeout tournament structure.
Industry influence (specific influences, changes attributed)
Instrumental in persuading Benny Binion to create the WSOP and establishing foundation for modern tournament poker.
WSOP (World Series of Poker) - all events all years
1973 | USA | World Series of Poker | Horseshoe Club | Main Event No-Limit Hold’em | $10,000 | 1st | $130,000 | 13 | | |||| 1971 | USA | World Series of Poker | Horseshoe Club | Limit Seven-Card Stud | | 1st | | |||| 1972 | USA | World Series of Poker | Horseshoe Club | Main Event No-Limit Hold’em | $10,000 | 2nd | | |||| 1973 | USA | World Series of Poker | Horseshoe Club | $1,000 No-Limit Hold’em | | 1st | | |||| 1973 | USA | World Series of Poker | Horseshoe Club | $4,000 Limit Seven-Card Stud | | 1st | | |||| 1970 | USA | World Series of Poker | Horseshoe Club | Main Event No-Limit Hold’em | $10,000 | Cash | |
No commentary work.