Crandell Addington

Crandell Addington (born June 2, 1938 in Graham, Texas) is an entrepreneur and poker player who is best known as one of the founders of the World Series of Poker.

Addington, known as "Dandy" because he was always well-dressed in a suit, During the 1960s he played the poker circuit in Texas leading him in 1969, to win the Texas Gamblers Convention in Reno, Nevada; it was there that the idea for the World Series of Poker was conceived. At the time Addington was already a self-made millionaire who played poker primarily for fun; for him, the game was more about personal challenge than about the pot size.

Poker
Addington made the final table of the WSOP Main Event almost every year from 1972 to 1979, and still holds the record, seven, for most final table appearances. He finished second on two occasions, losing to Johnny Moss in 1974 and Bobby Baldwin in 1978. Although he is no longer an active player, and has not had a tournament cash since 1990, he is regarded as one of the greatest poker players in history. The great Doyle Brunson described him as a "No Limit Hold'em Legend".

Business
Addington a graduate from Southwestern University, majoring in economics and accounting, left his professional poker career in the 1980s to put his business degree to work. Over the course of his 40 years as an entrepreneur, he founded successful businesses ranging from chemical manufacturing to oil and gas exploration. He is the currently the CEO, Chairman, and Director of Phoenix Biotechnology, a company that focuses on cancer treatment research.

In 2005, Addington took another shot at a WSOP win when he returned to Vegas to be inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame, but didn't fare as well as he did back in the 1970s.

As of 2008, his total live tournament winnings exceed $160,000.