According to Bluff Magazine, Walter Clyde "Puggy" Pearson, the originator of the freeze-out style poker tournament, has passed away at age 77. Starting in 1973, Pearson's freeze-out style tournaments, in which players play until one player has all the chips, became the format for all WSOP events. Pearson himself won 3 WSOP bracelets including the 1973 Main Event. Besides poker, Pearson became an expert gambler in both pool and golf and was elected to the poker hall of fame in 1987.