Pot-Limit Omaha Enthusiast and Pro in Cancer Death

Thursday, 26 October 2006

“Boston” Billy Duarte, an expert pot-limit Omaha poker player, has died of cancer.
Duarte started to play draw poker in 1962 and went on to triumph in many tournaments during his lifetime, with tournament winnings totalling more than $620,000.<

“Boston” Billy Duarte, an expert pot-limit Omaha poker player, has died of cancer.
Duarte started to play draw poker in 1962 and went on to triumph in many tournaments during his lifetime, with tournament winnings totalling more than $620,000. Almost $130,000 came from two cashes at the 2006 World Series of Poker event.
In an interview in 2001, Duarte said that during the last 20 years, he probably played more pot-limit poker than any other player alive. Moreover, he went to extreme lengths to play his favourite game. “Sometimes I’d fly somewhere and the game would last only two days,” he said. “Before Hold’em became popular, I flew to Australia twice for a month just to play pot-limit draw poker, mostly with ranchers.”
Having been diagnosed with lung cancer about a month ago, Duarte flew East to say his goodbyes before demonstrating true poker spirit by returning to Las Vegas to play in the $1,500 seniors event held during the Festa al Lago.
Duarte lost his wife Lorraine in 2000, and leaves seven children.



Tags: Poker News, Pot-Limit, Omaha, Enthusiast, and, Pro, in, Cancer, Death