Two-Time Bracelet Winner Hans ‘Tuna’ Lund Dies at 59

Hans “Tuna” Lund, a two-time World Series of Poker gold bracelet winner and long-time luminary of the poker community, died today after a long battle with cancer. He was 59.

The Sparks, Nevada, resident was a staple on the tournament circuit from 1977 to 1997, before retiring to focus on his two children, Lilly and Jimmy. During that stretch, Lund amassed nearly $3 million in tournament earnings and won WSOP bracelets in 1978 and 1996.

Lund came very close to winning the main event twice, finishing runner-up in 1990 and following that up with a third-place finish in 1992. His heads-up battle in 1990 with eventual winner Mansour Matloubi produced one of the most exciting hands in WSOP history.

Matloubi and Lund got into a raising war on a 9 4 2 flop. Lund showed down A 9 for top pair, top kicker, but was behind to Matloubi’s 10 10. The A on the turn changed everything and had Lund just two outs away from the title. Instead, the 10 hit the river, giving Matloubi the pot and, shortly thereafter, the tournament.

Former Card Player columnist Vince Burgio expressed his thoughts about the poker legend. “Tuna was truly a great poker player and, more importantly, a good man,” he said. “I will miss him terribly.”

Take a look at some of Lund’s bigger poker accomplishments below:

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