Canadian Poker Community Mourns Loss of Elder Statesman Gary Lucci
The poker world received sad news over the weekend that beloved Canadian poker player Gary Lucci had passed away.
Lucci, who hailed from Amherst, Nova Scotia, was well-known in the Canadian poker community, so it was no surprise to see numerous players offer their condolences and share memories on social media.
"A great guy who always smiled and saw joy in the game no matter if he was winning or losing."
“You didn’t need big wins or loud moments to leave an impression. You showed up, took your seat, smiled across the table, and made the game better just by being there,” shared Trevor Delaney. “Cards were your joy, Texas Hold’em was your game, but it was your patience, quiet humour, and steady presence that everyone will remember most. The table feels a little emptier now, the dealer button moves on, but your seat will always feel like yours. May there always be good cards, fair deals, and a friendly game waiting for you. You’ll always be remembered—hand after hand, story after story.”
Ray Carter wrote: “One thing about Gary, you didn’t run him off a pot, he’d call with bottom pair, especially when he thought you have AK , and he was right a lot of the time. RIP my friend, till we meet again.”
Trevor Otterson offered: “A great guy who always smiled and saw joy in the game no matter if he was winning or losing. He truly loved the game, traveling around to Calgary and Montreal, even with failing health. It was so great seeing him at the games and talking with him. A true legend. He will be missed.”
Poker reporter Brandyn Trenholm echoed those sentiments: “He spent the last at least 20 years just travelling and playing the game. If it were odd backroom games, casino games or whatever it was, he was there. Sometimes he'd fire a shot at a big game or two and it's him and people just like him that keep the game alive. He didn't do it to make absolute piles of money, or to be on tv, or to rub shoulders with those at the top. He did it because it was his passion and love of the game.”
Lucci had $626,808 in lifetime tournament earnings dating back to 2009, according to The Hendon Mob. That included a career-best $65,675 for finishing fourth in the 2015 World Poker Tour (WPT) partypoker.net Canadian Spring Championship $3,500 Main Event. That same year, he claimed his first and only World Series of Poker (WSOP) gold ring when he took down Event #11: $365 NLH for $13,478 at the WSOP Circuit Foxwoods stop.
PokerNews offers its condolences to the friends and family of Gary Lucci, who will be missed by the poker community.
