[toc]Support for poker legend and MGM Resorts International executive, Bobby Baldwin, has flooded social media over the past week. This follows reports of his injury after falling down two flights of stairs at MGM’s Aria Resort and Casino.
Bobby Baldwin unfortunately fell down two flights of stairs today at the Aria, resulting in broken shoulders, a fractured pelvis, broken ribs, and a severe head injury. #PrayersNeeded
Doyle Brunson tweeted this on July 8, 2017 (@TexDolly).
A spokesperson from MGM informed the Las Vegas Review-Journal that the president and chief operating officer of Aria, Baldwin, had suffered several injuries from a fall at work. The spokesperson also assured that Baldwin is expected to fully recover and return to work soon.
Jean-Robert Bellande, a friend and fellow poker professional who was also a former Survivor contestant, confirmed via Twitter that Baldwin had a successful elbow surgery last week following a fall. He assured that Baldwin’s injuries were not life-threatening.
Baldwin was anticipated to participate in the Poker Central Super High Roller Bowl poker tournament at Aria, with a buy-in of $300,000, scheduled for the end of May. However, due to a scheduling conflict, he pulled out of the event.
Bobby Baldwin: Poker legend
Baldwin initially gained fame in poker by securing two bracelets at the 1977 World Series of Poker (WSOP). His first victory was in a $10,000 Deuce to Seven Draw event. Later in the same series, he also triumphed in a $5,000 Seven Card Stud event.
In 1978, Baldwin clinched the WSOP Main Event victory, earning him the World Champion title and a first-place prize of $210,000. At the age of 28, Baldwin became the youngest winner in the history of the WSOP Main Event. However, this record has been surpassed multiple times by younger champions. Currently, the record is held by Joe Cada, who triumphed in the 2009 WSOP Main Event at just 21 years old.
Baldwin clinched his fourth WSOP bracelet in 1979 by winning another $10,000 Deuce to Seven Draw event. In 2003, he was honored with an induction into the Poker Hall of Fame.
Baldwin cashed in the Big One for One Drop
Baldwin’s latest live poker achievement was finishing seventh in the 2012 WSOP $1,000,000 Big One for One Drop. He was among the exclusive group of nine players who cashed in the inaugural $1 million buy-in tournament, earning himself $1,408,000.
Becoming a casino executive
Bobby Baldwin started his career as a Nevada casino executive when Steve Wynn hired him at the Golden Nugget in 1982. He rose to the position of the president of Golden Nugget in two years. In 1987, he became the president of the freshly constructed Mirage. He held the same position at the Bellagio when it was built ten years later. The Bellagio’s poker room, known for hosting some of the world’s highest-stakes cash games, includes a glass-encased salon named Bobby’s Room after Baldwin.
Following Wynn’s divestment, Baldwin assumed the role of CEO at Mirage Resorts. The sale of Mirage to MGM resulted in the company’s transformation into MGM Mirage, prompting Baldwin’s appointment as the CEO of the company’s extensive City Center project. Upon the completion of the project, Baldwin ascended to the position of president and CEO of Aria.
Image sourced from Shutterstock.com, captured by Maks Ershov.
