Thor Hansen, also known as the "Godfather of Norwegian Poker", has passed away on Tuesday evening after a long battle with cancer. He was 71 years old.
Hansen was first informed by doctors the dire news in 2012 that unfortunately his colorectal cancer had spread to his lungs, making him terminally ill and was given just a few more months to live. His body suffering from terminal cancer, Hansen decided to seek chemotherapy treatment and tried to live one day at a time. He continued to play his favorite game, poker. His last cash was back in March when he joined in the €800 Norwegian Open sponsored by partypoker in Dublin, Ireland and finished 98th place.
Throughout his poker career, Hansen won two WSOP bracelets. The first he earned back in 1988 when he emerged as the winner out of 78 contenders to win the $5,000 Seven Card Stud event. His second was in 2002 when he topped the $1,500 No-Limit Deuce to Seven event. His total live earnings were $2,949,644 according to the Hendonmob.
Also, he was a successful and respected online poker player. Back in 2012, he was a winner of the PokerStars World Championship of Online Poker title, dominating the $320 Seven Card Stud event. Six months after that, he snagged a Spring Championship of Online Poker title after winning the $2,100 Seven Card Stud event.
Many in the poker community expressed their heartfelt messages on Thor Hansen's passing through social media.
Thor Hansen was a Poker Hall of Fame finalist in 2012, 2013 and 2017.
Born in Oslo, Norway, and lived in California, Hansen was also a very good at playing chess and billiards. He was recruited by Larry Flynt to play poker for him after Hansen played against him in Las Vegas in the mid-1990s.
He was awarded the first Norwegian Poker Player of the Year award in 2005.
Many Norwegian poker players admire him and call him as their "Godfather".
He is survived by his wife, Marcella Braswell.
Source:
https://en.clubpoker.net/godfather-of-norwegian-poker-thor-hansen-passes-away/n-992
Good luck on the tables guys
