John “The Gentleman” Gale

[Harry Demetriou]

Hi All

I deeply regret informing the forum of the passing of John Gale yesterday on Monday 18 November 2019 following a long illness

He was not only one the best players to have emerged over the years from The UK but was also as his  poker nickname sggests a perfect gentleman at the tables.

He will be sorely missed and hope your thoughts condolences sympathies and best wishes along with mine are with his wife Shirley and family at this time

RIP my dearest friend John Gale

[booder]

Thanks for posting Harry.

Deepest sympathies to his family.

[tikay]

That's terrible news, & I'm very sad to hear it.

John was just terrific, & I enjoyed his company very much. He was always particularly kind to me, & always found time to chat.

He had to overcome some serious health problems in the time I knew him, but recovered sufficiently to win a second WSOP Bracelet 9 years after his first.

His first ever recorded cash on Hendon Mob was the PCA in the Bahamas, for $900,000, which must be remarkable in itself. Just 4 months later, hid 2nd ever cash was as runner-up in a $5,000 WSOP event to Brian Wilson of all people. (I wonder where he is now?). 

Poker, of course, was very different in those days, you could not buy wins by firing multiple bullets, it was almost all freezeouts & so you could really put opponents to the test. Long before others got it sussed, he understood pot odds, & there was no hand he would fold if he felt the odds were right.

A lovely man.

RIP John.


 

[tikay]

Thanks for posting that Harry, it's really appreciated. If it's not an impertinent question, where are you based these days, & what are you doing?

[Dewi_cool]

He knocked me out of the first GUKPT, Gorffwys mewn hedd John.

[RED-DOG]

R.I.P Mr Gale.

[Marky147]

Terrible news. Condolences to friends and family.

Remember battling with him a lot back in the day.

Super nice guy, and very tough to play against.

RIP Gizzimow.

[tikay]

Terrible news. Condolences to friends and family.

Remember battling with him a lot back in the day.

Super nice guy, and very tough to play against.

RIP Gizzimow.

John & his wife, Shirley, were on that Laddies Poker Cruise in 2005 (?), you'd have spent time with him on that presumably.

[Kev B]

Very sad news indeed and very young. RIP John.

[bobby1]

Very sad news. RIP John

[Marky147]

Terrible news. Condolences to friends and family.

Remember battling with him a lot back in the day.

Super nice guy, and very tough to play against.

RIP Gizzimow.

John & his wife, Shirley, were on that Laddies Poker Cruise in 2005 (?), you'd have spent time with him on that presumably.

I didn't go on the 2005 one, but sure he was on the '06 big cruise, and always used to see him at Laddies events anywhere, and in London festivals.

[Omm]

I didn’t know John well but I’d been playing at the Vic the last few months and spoke a few times to him, listened to a few stories and did battle in a few cash pots. In fact my biggest pot won was against John when his flopped straight with 64s lost to my turn and river quads 9’s. He just smiled and said “you needed that river”.

Could actual see he was getting worse and worse health wise.

RIP John.

[Harry Demetriou]

I didn’t know John well but I’d been playing at the Vic the last few months and spoke a few times to him, listened to a few stories and did battle in a few cash pots. In fact my biggest pot won was against John when his flopped straight with 64s lost to my turn and river quads 9’s. He just smiled and said “you needed that river”.

Could actual see he was getting worse and worse health wise.

RIP John.

I recall John telling me about this hand and he wasnt so gentlmanly when telling me either ;-)

He loved going to the Vic after many of hsi regular blood transfusions or therapy sessions and I know he missed going to Vegas and The WSOP over the past few years but he just wasnt physically strong enough to make long overseas trips

[TightEnd]

I was covering a DTD Deepstack

John was playing on the top level and had a decision, set of  sevens on a very wet board, put to the test for all his chips on the turn

He is in the tank and the atmosphere is a bit frosty, he is chuntering, his opponent is winding him up a bit

I happen to be watching

The fire alarm goes off. Everyone has to leave the building, mid hand or not

400 or so of us trudge out to the car park, and remain there for 45 minutes while the fire brigade arrive. It turns out vape smoke has set off a sensor

We all go back in, clock resumes and play continues

John is in mid hand with his 77 and facing an all in decision

Within a few seconds of sitting down he says "dealer, put the clock on me or else I will take ages to decide"!!

[I KNOW IT]

RIP John
Condolences to his family . A very nice guy