Cricket Legend and Former 888Poker Ambassador Shane Warne Dies at 52

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Shane Warne, the Australian cricket legend and former 888Poker ambassador, has died at the age of 52 from a suspected heart attack.

shane warne
Former Australian cricketer and poker player Shane Warne has died at the age of 52. (Image: WPT)

The former spin bowler was found unresponsive in his villa on the Thai island of Koh Samui earlier today. A statement from Warne’s management team requested privacy at this time but said that more details would follow in due course.

“Shane was found unresponsive in his villa and despite the best efforts of medical staff, he could not be revived. The family requests privacy at this time and will provide further details in due course,” read the press statement.

Shane Warne leaves his mark

Warne was the record-breaking former captain of Australia’s cricket team. Over the span of decade, he took over 1,000 international wickets, making him one of the best bowlers in history.

After retiring from the sport in 2013, Warne satisfied his competitive urges at the poker table. However, his passion for the game started long before that. Impromptu games with his teammates eventually turned into a deal with 888Poker.

Warne initially agreed a two-year partnership in 2008, but went on to represent the company until 2015. Even after his time with 888Poker came to an end, Warne remained a firm fixture at the Aussie Millions and WSOP. He also used poker as a way of raising funds for his charity, the Shane Warne Foundation.

As expected, poker players around the world have been posting messages of condolence on social media. Tony G, who spent a large part of his early life in Australia, expressed his shock and sadness.

Cricket star bowled over by poker

British poker pro Keith Hawkins reminisced about the time he sat next to Warne at the WSOP. The media attention Warne received caused an American to ask “who the f**k” is the guy everyone was taking pictures of.

The best way Hawkins could describe Warne was as cricket’s version of Michael Jordan. That comparison wasn’t too far wide of the stumps because Warne transcended cricket.

He had a high-profile relationship with actress Liz Hurley, he appeared on countless TV shows, and there’s a documentary about his life on Amazon Prime. He was also a poker player and someone people in the industry will remember fondly.



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