Poker icon David \u201cDevilfish\u201d Ulliott, from Hull, England, succumbed to cancer quietly and with class last week. He won WSOP, WPT titles and was a legend in high stakes cash games. Out of respect for Nolan Dalla and Stu Ungar, I won\u2019t call Devilfish \u2018One of a Kind\u2019 \u2013 but, like Stuey, it would certainly fit. If \u2018unique character\u2019 was one word and you looked it up in the dictionary, you might find Devilfish\u2019s picture there \u2013 and deservedly so.<\/p>\n
I knew Ulliott before he acquired the nickname \u201cDevilfish\u201d \u2013 one of the great nicknames in poker \u2013 as I was one of few lucky Americans who travelled to Europe in the 90\u2019s to play poker. I first saw him in the big game at the \u2018Vic\u2019 in London and played with him numerous times at the Aviation Club in Paris. The Aviation Club had a James Bond ambiance about it, making it a truly special place to play. Long, drawn-out dinners were the norm and even though I wasn\u2019t a fan of two-hour dinner breaks (just two hours after a tournament started), I enjoyed them due to the soothing, \u2018live\u2019 music.<\/p>\n
I was sitting at a table one night near the musician and watched as Devilfish walked up to the guy and gave him 100 francs (this was before the Euro), saying, \u201ctake a little break.\u201d The guy was wide-eyed and puzzled about getting a tip to stop playing but he took the money, got up and let Devilfish have his seat. And that was the end of the soothing music. First came Devilfish\u2019s version of \u2018Great Balls of Fire\u2019 by Jerry Lee Lewis followed by Elvis Presley\u2019s, \u2018Jailhouse Rock\u2019. The French stared in disbelief but I loved every minute of it. Devilfish loved having a good time, both on and off the table.<\/p>\n
Devilfish, before becoming a poker celebrity, was a product of his environment and did a lot of things he felt he had to do (some illegal) to survive.<\/p>\n
He told me, \u201cto survive in Hull you had to be very tough and street smart.\u201d And Devilfish was. As I got to know him he told me about his youth, his boxing days, some fights he was in (in and out of prison), etc. I knew if trouble broke out Devilfish was a good man to have on your side.<\/p>\n
In Paris once I was in a game with Devilfish and a French player who wasn\u2019t a fan of Brits. It didn\u2019t take long before the verbal jousting started. All of a sudden Devilfish got up, walked to the hallway and started shadow boxing. He was bobbing and weaving, breathing loudly thru his nose and firing combinations Sugar Ray Leonard would be proud of. Then he came back to the table and continued to play without saying anything. He was sending a message, especially to the French, that he shouldn\u2019t be messed with.<\/p>\n
Speaking of boxing, I went to the Floyd Mayweather\/Ricky Hatton (who, at the time, was an undefeated Englishman) fight in Vegas with Devilfish and about six other Brits and I\u2019ll be surprised if the Mayweather\/Pacquio fight has an atmosphere that gets anywhere close to the fever pitch in the MGM arena that night. As we were walking into the MGM, Devilfish said to me, \u201cI hope you didn\u2019t bet on Hatton. \u201d<\/p>\n
I said, \u201cyes, I did. I thought all of you bet on Hatton, too.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said, \u201cthese dumb blokes did, but I\u2019ve got $20k on Mayweather. I know boxing and this is like stealing. Hatton\u2019s got no fuckin\u2019 shot. None!\u201d I called my bookmaker and changed sides. Thanks, Devil!<\/p>\n
Devilfish was never shy. Just ask any woman he ever spoke to. He was a bit too crass for some and hard to understand at the best of times, but he was one of the funniest guys I\u2019ve ever known, always laughing at his own jokes. On top of his unique sense of humour he really was one of the best poker players in the world.<\/p>\n
I remember when he captured his WPT title in Tunica, Mississippi like it was yesterday. I remember it so vividly not only because Devilfish came to the table in a black suit and revealed his \u201cDevil Fish\u201d diamond rings for the first time, which were like brass knuckles that stretched across three fingers on each hand, but also because it was the most dominating win in WPT history. Devilfish came to the final table as chip leader and ran all over the table. He raised nearly every pot. It was a slaughtering. And what made even more remarkable was the high calibre of players at the final table. Phil Ivey was on that table (he finished 2nd) as well as some highly respected NLH players from Texas. But it was strictly \u2013 and I do mean strictly \u2013 a one-man show.<\/p>\n
I was, however, really disappointed with the edited TV show. It didn\u2019t show how the Devilfish bossed the table, leaving viewers unaware of his utter dominance. Only \u201cx\u201d number of hands can make it to the TV show, those that get action and go to a flop. Devilfish was raising and re-raising 9 out of 10 hands and everybody folded until they were so short stacked they were compelled to play. Devilfish would then call with K-5, or J-8, or whatever because he was priced in. It looked to most on TV like Devilfish was a bad player who got lucky. But nothing could be further from the truth. The show didn\u2019t do Devilfish justice and it still bothers me to this day.<\/p>\n
There is an endless supply of Devilfish stories, but here\u2019s one of my favourites: A big $50k PLO buy-in game, a small fortune back then, was going on at Bellagio. A rich Greek was in town and he loved PLO, which was coincidentally Devilfish\u2019s best game. The Devil was dying to get in on the action but didn\u2019t have enough to buy-in. Finally, after grinding and winning smaller games for several days, and perhaps borrowing a little, he had exactly $50k and got a seat in the game. The Devilfish was never shy about putting his entire bankroll on the table.<\/p>\n
Blinds were $200\/400 and most put the $800 straddle on it. Devilfish folded every hand for a round or two. The Greek then opened the pot for $2k, Doyle Brunson called and the Devilfish, in the BB, bet the $9K pot. Both players called. The flop came A-7-5 w\/two diamonds. Devilfish bet $27k and the Greek folded. After hesitating, Doyle, who was winning pretty good in the game, said, \u201cOK, let\u2019s gamble!\u201d He then set Devilfish all-in who quickly called.<\/p>\n
The Devil was trying for days to play this game and within 30 minutes was vying for a $110k pot! The Devilfish turned up A-A-J-10 in hearts and diamonds. He had the top set (best hand possible) and the nut flush draw. Doyle turned up 9-8-7-4 in diamonds and spades. He was drawing dead to running quads or a six that wasn’t a diamond. The two of spades came on the turn and then the six of clubs on the river, giving Doyle the straight and the win.<\/p>\n
Devilfish stared at the board for a minute. I thought he might turn the table over but to everyone\u2019s surprise, he didn\u2019t say a word. He just got up from the table and started walking out. He stepped down off the balcony, took a few more steps, turned around and headed back toward the table. When he got there he put his hands on the table, leaned across toward Doyle and said, \u201cDoyle, have you got any more of those Super System books of yours? I\u2019d like to have one so I\u2019ll have something to wipe my ass with when I get back home.\u201d He then turned and walked out.<\/p>\n
The poker world will never be the same. Look for David \u201cDevilfish\u201d Ulliott to get elected into the Poker Hall of Fame this year. It seems only fitting that the guy who shined perhaps the brightest light on European poker be the first European elected to the PHOF. He\u2019s sure as hell going to get my vote! RIP Devilfish.<\/p>\n
The following two videos sum up the Devilfish perfectly. The first is him playing up during an interview with PokerNews and the second where someone caught him doing what he loves best and that is performing for the public.<\/em><\/p>\n