Dave Ulliott

David A. Ulliott (1 April 1954 – 6 April 2015), known by the nickname Devilfish, was an English professional gambler and poker player. Formerly, Ulliott was a minor figure in the Hull underworld, but went on to become a World Series of Poker bracelet-winner, and a mainstay of televised poker. At the poker table, he was known for wearing orange-tinted prescription sunglasses, a sharp suit (or leather jacket) and gold knuckleduster rings reading "Devil" and "Fish", which he made himself.

Early years and criminal activities

Ulliott was born in 1954, the son of Stanley Ulliott, a World War II paratrooper turned truck driver and his wife Joyce (née Jefferson). He grew up in a small council house in a working class area, where he shared a room with his sister Janet (who later died of cancer). Ulliott was unmotivated throughout his education and left school at the age of 15, without any O-levels, to take his first job making trophies for G K Beaulah. After visiting the bookies with his father and winning his first bet at 50:1, he picked winners at horse racing with his work colleagues during hot lunch breaks. He was eventually fired from the job for taking an afternoon off to go to the races.