Karala and Salonen take their readers backstage to give you pictures and other unreleased material from their trips to the coolest casinos in the world and interviews with poker superstars.

Doyle Brunson – a legend on a sunny Vegas Sunday

It was a beautiful sunny Sunday in Las Vegas on April 26th, 2009.  76-year old Doyle ”Texas Dolly” Brunson had invited us to his home.

”Why don't you stop by on Sunday”, Brunson had presented his invitation to me when I called his cell from my hotel room at the Mirage a few days earlier. Brunson, who has played poker since the 1950's, had a familiar low voice with a friendly tone. There are not many poker superstars who deal with you in such a pleasant, unassuming way.

Under the Sunday's midday sun, the Las Vegas Strip was quiet and sleepy. Myself and photographer Samuli Karala had packed our gear to a cab and headed ten miles away from the Strip. We were sure that the party goers from the weekend spent their morning after between the sheets or having a morning brunch.

Finally we were getting nearer to Doyle Brunson's house and it seemed like the whole world had sunk in some mysterious Sunday haze. Our cab drove through an area with idyllic American houses. Here and there were children playing, and the sprinklers made sure the grass yards could handle the hot desert sun.

”Wow! So this is Doyle Brunson's house”, our driver got excited when he stopped the car and saw the Doyle's Room advertisements on the cars in the front yard. ”Damn, I drove people to the home of a legend”, the middle-aged cab driver wallowed.