The former owner of King’s Resort and professional poker player, Leon Tsoukernik, is reportedly in critical condition after he was found collapsed in his home in the Czech Republic on Monday.
Emergency Services Respond to Possible Overdose, Police Launches Investigation
The professional poker player may have overdosed on a drug called propofol. As reported by the local media outlet, Novinky.cz, Tsoukernik’s condition may have been the result of an “unprofessional” administration of the drug intravenously. It is unclear whether the poker player was with another person and how were emergency services contacted.
A spokesperson for the emergency services that responded to the call for help at Tsoukernik’s home confirmed that two medical crews and a doctor arrived on site. “We handed over the patient to the air ambulance in serious condition,” the spokesperson added. Details on the matter remain scarce but Tsoukernik is believed to be in critical condition and “fighting for his life,” according to the local media.
The suspected overdose prompted an investigation of law enforcement. A spokesperson for the police in Chodová Planá, the area where Tsoukernik lives, confirmed that law enforcement is looking into potentially “illegal behavior.” The spokesperson added that the investigation is looking into potential “serious” bodily harm, yet it remains unclear whether there are any suspects at the time. Still, the spokesperson added that law enforcement will investigate all relevant circumstances regarding the case of suspected overdose.
Tsoukernik Is a Famous Poker Player, Casino Entrepreneur
It was last year when Tsoukernik sold his share of the casino he founded, King’s Resort. The deal saw the casino’s founder collect approximately €400 million ($412 million) from the sale of his share. Besides a successful entrepreneur in the casino sector, Tsoukernik is also a professional poker player.
Throughout his professional career, he has collected close to $5.5 million from live tournaments. He has won two seven-digit prizes. Most recently, Tsoukernik faced Phil Ivey in the €100,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Short Deck Super High Roller at the 2019 WSOP Europe. Emerging as the winner of the event which took place at King’s Resort, Tsoukernik took home the top prize of $1.2 million.
On the other hand, the largest prize from a live tournament was scored by the poker player in 2017. At the time, Tsoukernik ranked fourth at the Super High Roller Bowl. This granted him a prize of $1.8 million.
Propofol Requires a Prescription in Many Countries
Propofol is a drug used to put people into sleep during general anesthesia. The intravenous anesthetic is used during and before medial surgery, or other medical procedures and acts as both a sedative and anesthetic.
Besides its medical use, propofol has gained notoriety about its recreational use and abuse that has led to a number of overdose cases, some which have been an accident, while others may be seen as suicide.
A propofol overdose usually results in respiratory failure, leading to death of the person. This is why propofol requires a prescription and needs to be administered by a doctor or anesthesiologist.
Back in 2009, the all-time music icon, Michael Jackson, died of propofol intoxication. Several years later, the star’s personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter after administering propofol together with benzodiazepines lorazepam and midazolam. Murray, while initially sentenced to four years in prison, was released after two years in 2013.
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