He's been called the Godfather of Poker. He's the Texas Dolly. He's won more tournaments than this writer has years to his name. He's written the seminal book on Texas Hold'em strategy. He's the spokesman of Doyles Room, one of the internet's most popular online poker rooms. His name is Doyle Brunson. And as of February 15, 2006, he's got another claim to fame.

Doyle Brunson, spokesman of Doyles Room online poker room, has just been named Card Player Magazine's first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award. The awards were presented as part of Card Player Magazine's Player of the Year Awards at Old Hollywood's Henry Fonda Music Box Theater.

Bodog produced the event, which also honored Men Nguyen as "Player of the Year" and the following other poker greats:

People's Choice Award for Favorite Player -- Daniel "Kid Poker" Negreanu
Best Celebrity Player -- Jennifer Tilly
Best No-Limit Player -- Phil Ivey
Most Underrated Player -- Allen Cunningham
Best Heads Up Player -- Phil Ivey
Best Mixed Game Player -- Chip Reese
Best Female Player -- Jennifer Harman
Most Entertaining Player -- Mike Matusow
Most Feared Player -- Phil Ivey
Breakthrough Player -- Michael Gracz
Best Cash Game -- Chip Reese
Poker Ambassador -- Mike Sexton
Card Player Freeroll Champion -- Jim Coca

Incidentally, though he didn't win the award, Doyles Room's Todd Brunson (son of Doyle Brunson) was one of the nominees for "Best Heads Up Player" (along with poker brat Phil Hellmuth). Doyles Room's Doyle Brunson himself was also nominated for Poker Ambassador (with other non-winner Daniel Negreanu).

The Doyle's Room name-giver was the first person ever to win $1 million in a tournament. At the time of winning the Bodog/Card Player Magazine award, Doyles Room's Brunson had 10 World Series of Poker bracelets to his name. Should another WSOP event have occurred before these words cross your desktop, that number will invariably be higher.

The event's host was Brad Garrett of television's "Everybody Loves Raymond". Celebrity attendees included " Boston" Rob and Amber Mariano ("Survivor"), Don Felder of the Eagles, Christopher Masterson ("Malcolm in the Middle"), Danny Masterson and Laura Prepon ("That '70's Show"), and Gilby Clarke, formerly of Guns and Roses.

The Doyles Room spokesman and Las Vegas native, in accepting the honor, gave this humble advice to the audience: In life as in poker, you have tough breaks. But you have to play with the hands you're dealt. That is what I try to do, and that is what I encourage you to do."

Though Men "The Master" was the declared player of the year, Doyles Room's Doyle Brunson was on the short list for the award, with the following 2005 standings:

4th Annual 5-Diamond World Poker Classic, No-Limit Hold'em Championship event: 3rd place ($563,485)

36th Annual World Series of Poker -- No-Limit Hold'em Short Handed event: 1st place ($367,500)

3rd Annual 5-Star World Poker Classic: 3rd place ($60,000)

It was only a matter of time before the most respected man in poker got an online poker room all his own. If there's any poker room where you can count on the quality of service, features, and gameplay that the best of the best would desire, it's Doyles Room. It takes a Lifetime of Achievement to come up with something that good!

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