Poker Players That Were Brutally Murdered

Susie Zhao

Susie Q. Zhao was a poker star on the rise. People knew her for both her exceptional poker skills and her genuine care for mental health. Zhao immigrated to the United States as a child and grew up in Troy, Michigan, before moving to California to play poker full-time. 

In July 2020, Zhao met a man whom she believed to be a friend, but he turned out to be a serial sex criminal named Jeffrey Bernard Morris. Morris raped Zhao at a local motel on the 12th of July, 2020. 

Court papers indicate that he then set her on fire and left her to die as her body burned. Her remains were later found in a remote parking lot by drivers who were passing by.

Morris was found guilty of first-degree premeditated murder in October 2022, after a two-year investigation. He was given a life term without the chance of parole. Zhao’s friends and family have become strong supporters of mental health awareness since her death. They want to stop other potentially vulnerable individuals from falling victim to predators like Zhao did.

Matthew Bergart

The poker world was lest speechless on April 26, 2024, when we learned that Canadian high-stakes player Matthew Bergart had been shot dead.

Even though Bergart was only 30 at the time, his bold play in some of Toronto’s biggest cash games had already made him popular. Things went badly when three armed thieves broke into his Mississauga townhouse while he was there visiting a friend.

Later, police reported it was clear that Bergart wasn’t the intended target. The intruders were on a planned heist, on the hunt for money and valuables from the house. The attackers shot Bergart several times as he struggled to overtake them.

He was taken to a nearby hospital right away, but sadly succumbed to his injuries. The suspects are still at large, and police are asking anyone with information to come forward.

Mehmet Hassan

Mehmet Hassan was a successful poker player who earned his living by playing in casinos and private games throughout London.

Hassan loved the thrill of gambling and could pull some decent wins, like £15,000 in one night. Unfortunately, he liked the company of women during his gambling sessions, and this proved to be his downfall.

In Mayfair, at the Palm Beach Casino, while playing, he met Leonie Granger, who was 25 years old. They had drinks and then went back to his Islington flat on March 23, 2015. No one but Granger knew that she was setting up Hassan.

Granger didn’t lock the door when she got to Hassan’s house on purpose. After arriving at Hassan’s apartment, she quietly left, letting her boyfriend Kyrron Jackson and his friend Nicholas Chandler sneak in. 

Once they got inside, the two guys used tape to tie up Hassan. They proceeded to attack him, beating him badly, and kicked and stomped on Hassan until he died. They ransacked the house for money and valuables after killing him.

While the group kept Hassan’s body hidden, they filmed themselves celebrating, throwing around £50 notes and stuffing the money into their pockets, acting as if nothing had happened. 

Ultimately, the court delivered justice. It found Granger guilty of manslaughter and sentenced her to 16 years in prison.

The court convicted Jackson and Chandler of murder and sentenced them to life in prison, requiring them to serve at least 36 years before becoming eligible for release.

Darren Young

The family of 32-year-old Scottish poker player Darren Young received heartbreaking news in May 2024, which left them traumatized. Young’s body had been found in the hotel he was renting in Manila while he was on a tour around Asia playing cash games.

What made the incident suspicious of foul play was that Young’s personal belongings were missing; his watch, bank cards, poker chips, wallet and cash were all gone. Before his untimely death, the poker player messaged his friends about a mysterious couple he met just hours before, saying, “I think I’ve been drugged.”

Ever since, Jackie Bain, his mother, has been pushing for the Philippines’ police to look into his death as a possible murder. 

Pneumonia has been ruled as the official cause of death. Still, many people, including doctors from the UK, are skeptical, especially since the body was embalmed before any more tests could be done.

Before arriving in the Philippines, Young had been on a tour of Asia, visiting Thailand, China, Dubai, Pakistan, and Cambodia. He had just moved into the condo a few weeks before the tragedy.

He was a caring dad to his five-year-old, and friends say he was always there to lend a hand to anyone in need.

The case is still being looked into, and the UK Foreign Office is providing support. There haven’t been any arrests made so far. 

Donald “Don” Idiens

Donald “Don” Idiens was a beloved figure in his hometown of Gold River. Besides being a successful real estate developer, he was a poker enthusiast and was a regular at the tables. Unfortunately, his life ended tragically while he was in Las Vegas in December 1997.

Don was having a great time playing poker at the Mirage Hotel on the night of December 8 1997. He won a decent amount of money. After he was done playing, he left behind more than $800 in poker chips and walked away. That was the last time he was seen alive.

The following morning, the hotel staff at the nearby Imperial Palace made a shocking discovery. On the 17th floor, Don’s body was found in a hallway. His body appeared badly beaten, and he was wearing only pants and socks. After an autopsy, the cause of death was found to be a severe head trauma.

Police began investigating a man named Greg Chao, a guest at the hotel where Don’s body lay. It was on record that Chao had been convicted of theft in the past. The police quickly found out that Chao had borrowed $1,000 from Don at the poker table the night before. He was in a lot of debt from gambling and desperately needed money.

Police believe Chao asked Don to come to his room to ask for more money. When Don refused, things got rough. More and more proof showed up. Don’s blood was discovered in Chao’s room, and DNA tests proved the link.

Greg Chao was finally caught and found guilty of murder in the first degree and robbery with a dangerous weapon. He was sentenced to life in prison without the chance of parole.

Wrapping Up

There is a lot to learn from the above sad stories. These players paid the ultimate price with their lives because they trusted the wrong person, were in the wrong place at the wrong time, and lived a carefree, high-risk life that made them a soft target. 

Beyond the tables and fame, these poker players were real people and had families and hopes, and, sadly, their lives were cut short far too soon.

Poker players, especially those in high-stakes poker, should be vigilant and take precautions, particularly when money, travel, and strangers are involved.

The poker community should also look out for one another, speak up when something seems wrong, and prioritize safety. Poker can help you make friends and memories when it’s done right. As vital as it is to learn how to play the game well, it’s also essential to stay safe.