John Strzemp, Who Finished Runner-Up to Stu Ungar in 1997, Passes Away
John Strzemp, runner-up to Stu Ungar in the 1997 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event, passed away last month at 73.
The poker player was well-known within the Las Vegas gaming community. He served as an executive for multiple major casinos on the Strip the past three decades.
Nearly Became a Poker World Champion
Strzemp cashed in 23 WSOP events from 1997 to 2019. He had nearly $1.2 million in overall live tournament cashes, according to The Hendon Mob. But the moment he's most known for as a poker pro came in 1997 when he fell just one spot shy of becoming a world champion thanks to an untimely bad beat.
The WSOP Main Event final table that year was played outside on Fremont Street, right in front of Binion's, the original home to the World Series of Poker. Strzemp was heads-up with Ungar, who was attempting to win his third world championship and first since 1981.
Ungar, who had fallen on some hard times leading up to the tournament, held the chip lead. But Strzemp had a golden opportunity to rally when Ungar went all in with A♥4♣ on a flop of 5♦A♣3♥. Strzemp called with A♠8♣ for the better kicker.
The turn was the 3♦, which paired the board, and the 2♠ on the river gave Ungar the winning straight. Strzemp came one card away from potentially winning the Main Event, but still went home with $583,000.
Strzemp, born November 3, 1951 in Chicago, was far more than just the poker player who almost beat Stu Ungar in 1997. He is a former president at Treasure Island, previously an MGM Resorts International casino resort on the Las Vegas Strip.
In 2002, he took over as chief financial officer and executive vice president of Wynn Resorts, working alongside former CEO Steve Wynn, who built Wynn Las Vegas. Strzemp then became executive vice president and chief administrative officer of Wynn Resorts in 2008.
The late gaming industry executive also worked Bellagio, Golden Nugget, and Hilton casinos in Las Vegas. He was an avid horse and sports bettor, and a die-hard Chicago Cubs fan.
Strzemp is survived by his two adult children and one granddaughter, and his partner of 24 years, Bonnie Ratner. A memorial service was held April 30 at Guardian Angel Cathedral in Las Vegas.
