WSOP 2014: Poker community gathers to keep in mind Chad Brown, and a game well played

Poker players usually make it their business to maintain their emotions in check, but today that was different. Within the place where he played his first World Series of Poker final table, friends and relatives of Chad Brown gathered at Binion's, in Downtown Las Vegas, to celebrate his life.

Some came to talk, travelling from in all places to mention a couple of words about how Chad were part of their lives. Others simply came to pay their respects to a person who was universally liked around the entire poker community, after which play a charity poker tournament in his honour.

In attendance were familiar faces from the poker community. Chad's fellow Team Pros Fatima Moreira de Melo, Victor Ramdin and Jake Cody were there, as were the likes of Robert Mizrachi, Dan Shak, Allen Kessler, Fabrice Soulier, Dennis Phillips, and challenger for Bluff Player of the Year Brandon Shack-Harris. In a pleasant tribute, word came moments before the service that are meant to Shack-Harris win that title this year he'll find himself in receipt of the Chad Brown Trophy, the name Bluff Magazine will now call its annual award.

Team Pros and other faces from the poker community came out to pay their respects

But while all were united in sadness, there has been also a way of celebration, as a room filled with people delighted in talking about how Chad Brown had touched their lives in some way.

Speaking sooner than a charity tournament to boost money for the TJ Martell Foundation, which goes to seek out a cure for among other things liposarcoma, Jennifer Winter, who knew Chad for twenty years, across all three of his careers, introduced the service, speaking of the way she felt blessed to have known him.

Then came a brief video, to the soundtrack of Chad's favourite song Mony Mony, showing pictures of him in each of his incarnations -- the grinning child, the confident young man, the model, the actor and the poker player, the finale being a recording of Chad's appearance a few years ago dancing on a TV talent show. "He'll be laughing his ass off that that was the last clip that was shown," grinned Winter.

Chad's ex-wife but close friend Vanessa Rousso then thanked everyone for helping to make the occasion happen. In an overly emotional speech, hers was a touching and really personal tribute to a person who have been such a huge a part of her life. A message from Rousso's mother was also read out, further proof of ways such a lot of people were grateful that he have been of their lives.

Vanessa Rousso signs the photo in memory of Chad Brown. Guests added their messages to Chad Brown's family

This included Matt Savage, the tournament director of the sector Poker Tour, who stated meeting Chad within the very room of the service back in 2002 when he reached his first final table.

"It was probably the primary stud tournament to be televised," said Savage, before raising a couple of laughs: "and the last." Savage picked out Chad's inspirational courage which had struck Savage the most, particularly when faced with a terminal illness.

Chad's longer term friend Parris Calderon mentioned Chad's confidence in addition to his athletic prowess.

He told story of an early video camera he and Chad bought after which shared, and the way Chad had asked Parris to set it up at a three-hitter so he could record Chad hitting a house run.

Parris, putting this right down to bravado, arrange the camera as requested while Chad went through some dramatics which presumably were to position the pitcher off his game. He even pointed to an indication at the outfield wall over which he'd hit it. Low and behold he did just that, although as he trotted across home plate Parris had a confession to make.

"I didn't get it," he said, having struggled to work this new technology.

"What are you worried about," replied Chad. "I WILL BE coming to bat again."

Sure enough he did, and duly hit the ball over the similar sign a second time.

The poker community came together to pay their respects

Laurence Hughes made some of the touching speeches. Having known Chad for greater than six years, he said when he was first asked if he desired to hang around with Chad, something Hughes joked that he would brag about with other friends on the time, claiming it was no big deal. Then, he couldn't help but well up:

"It was a large deal," he said, gulping down tears. "Chad Brown desired to hang around with me. And that was pretty cool."

Chad's girlfriend Stephanie talked of the Chad Brown she knew, who never grumbled or complained, even if very ill. "AN EXTRAORDINARY virtue in any man," she said.

Perhaps one of the most most poignant words came from people who freely admitted they weren't good at stuff like this. Ali Eslami, a poker players and one among Chad's best friends, talked of the way his friend always considered others, and lived by a creed that said all of us have a decision of the way to feel.

Ali Eslami quoted his friend: "WE'VE a limited time in this earth. Decide to live it happy."

Nolan Dalla echoed those sentiments, and expressed his gratitude at having known Chad. "A person's life isn't measured in quantity but quality," he said. "WE AREN'T a community that unites enough. But Chad Brown brought us together. How special a present is that?"

Jennifer Winter had joked before the service that she'd told Phil Hellmuth he could be speaking "from the bring to an end." He duly stepped as much as say a couple of words, quoting a message Doyle Brunson had told him earlier that day. "Don't cry for yesterday, celebrate the life that happened," said Hellmuth, before admitting, to great merriment, that Chad had "absolutely smashed me in side games my entire life."

Todd Brunson also stood to pay tribute. "When someone dies they're always 'one of the nicest guys'," said Brunson. "But Chad was the nicest guy. He was the one player I knew who never lost his temper. Besides maybe Phil."

Hellmuth, admitting to being more emotional than he'd expected, concluded by saluting Chad the poker player and likewise the man, before Chad's close friend Alexander Steel stepped as much as describe how he had first met Chad greater than TWO DECADES ago at an industry party, describing him as a "happy, fearless, courageous adventurer."

"He was a celeb in everything he did," said Steel. "A HIGH-QUALITY character, anchored moral compass, integrity, and large charisma."

Others stood as much as say a couple of words. Most talked of the way Chad, even if dying, seemed more concerned that he friends were happy, surprising individuals who had expected to need to comfort him as they visited him in hospital. A humbled Kenna James, fighting back tears, read a poem in honour of his friend, "THE SPORT well played."

Guests were presented with brown ribbons in memory of Chad Brown

It was left to Linda Johnson to supply to wonderful light relief. The previous WPT presenter thanked Chad for helping her get to the gym. Having worked with Chad, and known his fondness for keeping in good shape, Johnson told how she always kept some training shoes and gear together with her in case Chad played, although her motives were definitely ulterior.

"If Chad Brown worked out," said Johnson, "I USED TO BE always there to look at him work out!"

Picking the most efficient vantage point within the gym Johnson admitted she would take pleasure in some gratuitous Chad watching. "I always worked out when Chad worked out. When he left, I left."

It was a narrative to position a grin back on everyone's face, stirring up much more fond memories of a person who can be greatly missed.

As a footnote, registration to the $200 re-buy tournament, in Chad's memory, closed having raised $35,600 for the TJ Martell Foundation. In addition to contributing prizes for the winner, PokerStars may be matching the volume donated, making for a complete sum of $71,200.

A game rather well played indeed.

Stephen Bartley is a PokerStars Blog reporter. Photos by Joe Giron and Jayne Furman/Poker Photo Archive

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