Chip Reese’s Poker Partner Danny Robison Passes Away

In sad news this week, the poker community learned that poker legend and larger than life character Danny Robison has passed away, although no details as to how his death came about have thus far been released.
Born in 1945, Danny Robison went on to become one of the best 7 card stud players of all time, and in 1995 won the WSOP $2,500 seven card stud event for $140,000. Robison was also the best friend and poker partner of poker superstar Chip Reese, who together were known as “The Goldust Twins.” The two pros originally moved to Las Vegas back in 1973 with a bankroll of just $800 between them, and playing $10/20 Seven-Card Stud managed to run up their bankroll to more than $2 million within two and a half years.
The rest, as they say, was history with the amigos then going on to become two of the most respected and well liked characters on the high stakes circuit. Over the years, however, Danny Robison did suffer from cocaine addiction, but was eventually able to overcome his drug addiction and later became a born again Christian. After hearing of Robison’s passing, 10-times WSOP bracelet winner Doyle Brunson, who in 1962 experienced “spontaneous remission” of his terminal cancer, thus sparking his strong Christian faith, recalled the following story:
“I know all you atheists are gonna ha-ha but I saw Danny Robison so strung out on drugs he couldn’t walk. A preacher prayed with him and he was delivered immediately with no withdrawal symptoms.”
Danny Robison passes away seven years after Chip Reese, and since the news broke poker players have been sharing their memories of Robison over twitter. Here are a few of those messages:
Linda Johnson
“Danny Robinson was a good guy and a tough poker player. I loved to hear him tell poker stories…always entertaining. RIP Danny!”
Brett Richey
“RIP Danny robison – A brilliant 7 card stud player. IMO stud is significantly more skillful & challenging than any form of limit poker.”
David Williams
“RIP Danny Robison, a true poker legend.”
Doyle Brunson
“Got word Danny Robinson just died. He was Chip Reese’s best friend and was instrumental in Poker development in Vegas.#myfriendtooRIP”