Until recently, David “Chip” Reese had been flying under the poker radar. For years, he had been considered the best cash-game player in the world by many of his peers. He received the awards for “Best Cash-Game Player” and “Best Mixed-Game Player” at the Card Player Player of the Year Awards in 2006.

He was best known for playing in the world’s biggest cash games and did not turn an eye toward tournaments until relatively late in his career. This transition paid dividends, as he won the pros’ most coveted title, the $50,000 buy-in H.O.R.S.E. event at the 2006 World Series of Poker, taking home $1.7 million.

Reese was not always a poker player. He was born on March 28, 1951, grew up in Dayton, Ohio, and graduated from Dartmouth College. He was on his way to Stanford to study law, and stopped in Las Vegas with $400. He never left and became a poker legend off of that small bankroll. In 1991, he became the youngest member of the Poker Hall of Fame. Reese died on Dec. 4, 2007.