The poker world recently received sad news that two-time World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner and 1990s poker legend Brent Carter passed away at the age of 77. While an exact cause of death has not been revealed, Carter had suffered several heart attacks and strokes in the past.
“Brent was one of the kindest people I ever knew. He wasn’t an angel, but never accepted anything for helping someone,” said Jane Paquette, Carter’s partner of 32 years, who informed PokerNews of his passing. Carter was recognizable for always donning a blue jacket with a Big Gulp in his hand.
“He gave Stu Unger $20 for cab fare the day before Stu died. When Brent won something, everyone got something. He has about 53 pages of tournament finishes. The full schedule for many tournaments did not go out until Brent looked at it. He mostly played Omaha, but played everything. He would look at the schedules and suggest that people who wanted to play tournaments in the same category would not be able to play both if they ran two days. Brent took food to the homeless 2-3 times a week. He could have a conversation with anyone.”
Paquette also told PokerNews: “Brent mostly took the high road, at least when it came to poker. He tried to make things fair for everyone. Keep in mind, when Brent started playing tournaments, if it was a $500 tournament, each player received $500 in chips. His career began at the Stardust, with the Stairway to the Stars tournaments. He learned to play on the job. I met him in 1994. We were together almost from the first day. I have so many stories of what a kind and helpful person he was.”
Carter had $3,099,501 in lifetime tournament earnings dating back to 1986, according to The Hendon Mob (his last cash came back in 2015). He placed third in the 1995 WSOP Main Event for a career-high $302,750, which was one of four third-place finishes he had in WSOP tournaments.
He also had three runner-up finishes and claimed a pair of WSOP gold bracelets. The first came in the 1991 WSOP when he won the $1,500 NLH for $156,800, and then three years later at the 1994 WSOP, he won the $1,500 Limit Omaha event for $83,400. Carter also had a pair of WSOP Circuit gold rings to his credit.
Other highlights on his poker resumé include wins in the 1990 Amarillo Slim’s Super Bowl of Poker $1,550 NLH for $87,000 and the 1991 Hall of Fame Poker Classic $2,500 Pot-Limit Omaha for $156,800.
According to the WSOP, before he started playing poker full time, Carter used to race harness horses. A recap of one of Carter’s WSOPC rings states, “He found his love for horse racing in high school when he and his girlfriend went to a race together. He eventually got involved with an individual who owned horses and the rest was history.”
“At the poker table, you’re up against eight people, and you’re all trying to figure out a strategy to get all the chips,” Carter said of the similarities between harness racing and poker. “In a harness race you have eight, nine or 10 horses and you’re all trying to figure out a strategy to get your horse there first. The best horse doesn’t always win, and the best hand doesn’t always win.”
Back in 2021, Carter made headlines when he was charged with the federal crime of spreading a hoax, according to a report from The Times Union, a regional newspaper in New York. Carter allegedly repeatedly mailed suspicious white powder to the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) headquarters in Schenectady, New York.
Carter pleaded guilty and was sentenced to time served for conveying a hoax and false information. Carter admitted to leaving numerous letters to employees at the NYSGC, in which he used threatening language. He also admitted to leaving four letters containing a white powder and other substances to the Commission.
PokerNews offers its condolences to the friends and family of Brent Carter.
Chad Holloway
PR & Media Manager