The poker community on Sunday lost Perry Friedman, a well-respected figure, at the age of 55 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Friedman was not only a long-time poker player but also a venture capitalist and computer programmer, known for his unique style at the poker tables, including his varied hair colors and eye-catching attire such as lighted hats and tuxedos.
What You Need to Know
- Perry Friedman, a notable poker player and a member of the “Tiltboys” poker crew, passed away at age 55 after battling pancreatic cancer.
- Friedman had a successful career in poker, amassing over $1.1 million in live tournament winnings, including a significant victory at the 2002 World Series of Poker.
- Beyond poker, Friedman contributed to education by establishing a scholarship at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he enrolled in law school in 2012.
Friedman, a native of New York, graduated from Stanford University with degrees in mathematics and computer science. He combined his academic skills with his passion for poker, resulting in a successful career in both fields. He was one of the early employees at Tiltware, the software company behind Full Tilt Poker, in 2003.
His poker career, which began in 2000, saw him amass over $1.1 million in live tournament winnings. A significant achievement was winning a $1,500 Omaha eight-or-better event at the 2002 World Series of Poker, taking home $176,860. His final recorded cash was at the WSOP in a $1,500 PLO eight-or-better event the summer before he passed away.
Beyond the tables, Friedman was known for his involvement with the “Tiltboys” poker crew, which included Phil Gordon and others. They shared their poker and gambling stories in the 2005 book “Tales from the Tiltboys.” Before his poker career took off, Friedman worked at IBM and Oracle and founded a sports handicapping startup. He later transitioned fully into the poker world.
In his later years, Friedman focused on giving back. After enrolling in law school at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2012, he established a scholarship at the university, supporting students each semester. His legacy in the poker world is a blend of his table successes and his contributions beyond the game.
Horrible news!! I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of my time spent w Perry Friedman, on-and-off, the poker tables. Perry was a great guy, by all accounts, who was always smiling, joking and infecting others w his contagious laughter. He would bring things like “lighted hats,”… https://t.co/rRh0cLSHNV pic.twitter.com/BUDCsv66ke
— phil_hellmuth (@phil_hellmuth) January 23, 2024
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