Bodog Beat

Friends of poker legend Chip Reese have all weighed in on passing of  one of the games greats. (Bodog Beat Image)

As the shockwaves continue to roll through the poker community after the news of the death of poker legend Chip Reese, the tributes and condolences being offered by his contemporaries and friends are also continuing.

The "godfather" of poker Doyle Brunson was a decades-long friend and business partner of Reese's and had this to say about him in a statement released by the Brunson family's media rep:

“I have lost one of my oldest and dearest friends today. He was one of the most unique individuals I have ever known and Poker has lost one of the greats today.”

Doyle's son Todd also released a brief statement about Reese:

“I have lost a mentor and friend today. He was like a family member to me.”

Poker pro Gus Hansen was very close to Reese and wrote a post honoring his good friend:

"Chip was not only a world class poker player but also a world class individual and I am proud to call him my friend. Chip was the kind of gambler we should all strive to be.

Chip's experience, good spirit and integrity made him the best ambassador for the game and I am certain that the whole poker community will miss him greatly. I, for one, will miss the fierce competition, our friendship and his guidance off and on the poker table."

WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack sent out a few words on behalf of the WSOP community as a whole:

"Many consider Chip the greatest cash-game player who ever lived. His victory in the inaugural $50,000 buy-in HORSE championship … made him a part of WSOP lore forever."

On top of that, there are "RIP Chip Reese" threads running on all of the major poker forums, including a 38+ page monster on 2+2, with tributes, anecdotes from brief meetings with Reese and, most of all, condolences to his family and friends.

More and more details are emerging concerning the circumstances surrounding his death. The latest update comes from Barry Greenstein's poignant audio blog post over at PokerRoad.com. He spoke with Brunson who told him that when he and Reese had gastric bypass surgery the doctor told them that they would become more susceptible to blood clots. Greenstein reports that Brunson thinks this is what may have happened.

Reese was also diagnosed with slight pneumonia by his doctor a couple of days ago and there are also rumors that he called the hospital on that night complaining of pneumonia-like symptoms, but never went in. However, the official cause of death is still undetermined.

The funeral services will be held in Las Vegas on Friday.