Texas Poker Community Mourns the Loss of Mark “Doc” Toulouse After Tragic Incident at TCH Dallas
The Texas poker world was hit with heartbreaking news on Sunday, March 2, when veteran player Mark “Doc” Toulouse passed away during a tournament at Texas Card House (TCH) Dallas. Toulouse, 73, collapsed mid-event while competing in the $300 No-Limit Hold’em tournament, which had drawn a massive field of 1,648 entries.
Details surrounding the incident were first reported by Todd Witteles of PokerFraudAlert.com, who explained: “Mark collapsed during the tournament, was taken to a nearby hospital, and unfortunately did not survive. By the time this happened, the tournament had already reached the money. His chip stack was left to blind out, and Mark officially finished in 26th place, earning $1,475.”
A spokesperson from TCH Dallas also confirmed the tragic events, stating: “He suffered a heart attack here at the club. We immediately called for medical assistance, and paramedics transported him to the hospital. Since we didn’t know his condition at the time, we continued to blind off his stack. Our next step is reaching out to his family to make sure they receive his prize money.”
Toulouse wasn’t just a face at the table — he was a beloved figure in the Texas poker community. Originally from Toronto, he spent his career teaching as a professor at Emmanuel College before retiring in 2017. Retirement gave him the time to pursue his passion for poker, and he quickly became a familiar and respected player in rooms across Texas.
His family took to social media to share the sad news, writing:
“He passed away last night, quite literally in the middle of doing something he loved — playing poker in a community that meant so much to him these last few years. One moment he was laughing, the next he was gone, likely from a heart attack. The attempts to save him weren’t successful. We’re still processing it all, but we’re beginning to plan a celebration of his incredible life. He truly was the best dad anyone could ask for. We’re also so thankful we were all able to gather as a family over the holidays — it was the first time in a while that all five of us were in the same place at the same time. We’ll share details about services once they’re set.”
Toulouse had an impressive poker resume, with The Hendon Mob reporting over $550,000 in career tournament winnings. His biggest score came in 2022, when he won the $400 buy-in TCH End of Summer $250K Guaranteed event, pocketing $89,197. More recently, in 2023, he took third place in TCH’s $300 “Even Bigger One” event for $45,000.
He also added a prestigious piece of hardware to his collection last year — a World Series of Poker Circuit ring. Toulouse captured the title in November 2023 at Choctaw Durant, winning Event #14: $250 NLH Turbo for $7,642 after outlasting a 147-player field.
Final Table Results – 2023 WSOPC Choctaw Durant Event #14: $250 NLH Turbo
1st - Mark Toulouse - $7,642
2nd - Taylor Schubert - $4,723
3rd - Eric Chang - $3,273
4th - Gerald Nabours - $2,327
5th - John David Smith - $1,698
6th - Marshall Decker - $1,272
7th - Alex Lee - $979
8th - Jared Hemingway - $776
9th - Patrick Popowski - $633
PokerNews extends its deepest condolences to Mark Toulouse’s family, friends, and the entire poker community who knew and loved him.
The Texas poker world was hit with heartbreaking news on Sunday, March 2, when veteran player Mark “Doc” Toulouse passed away during a tournament at Texas Card House (TCH) Dallas. Toulouse, 73, collapsed mid-event while competing in the $300 No-Limit Hold’em tournament, which had drawn a massive field of 1,648 entries.
Details surrounding the incident were first reported by Todd Witteles of PokerFraudAlert.com, who explained: “Mark collapsed during the tournament, was taken to a nearby hospital, and unfortunately did not survive. By the time this happened, the tournament had already reached the money. His chip stack was left to blind out, and Mark officially finished in 26th place, earning $1,475.”
A spokesperson from TCH Dallas also confirmed the tragic events, stating: “He suffered a heart attack here at the club. We immediately called for medical assistance, and paramedics transported him to the hospital. Since we didn’t know his condition at the time, we continued to blind off his stack. Our next step is reaching out to his family to make sure they receive his prize money.”
Toulouse wasn’t just a face at the table — he was a beloved figure in the Texas poker community. Originally from Toronto, he spent his career teaching as a professor at Emmanuel College before retiring in 2017. Retirement gave him the time to pursue his passion for poker, and he quickly became a familiar and respected player in rooms across Texas.
His family took to social media to share the sad news, writing:
“He passed away last night, quite literally in the middle of doing something he loved — playing poker in a community that meant so much to him these last few years. One moment he was laughing, the next he was gone, likely from a heart attack. The attempts to save him weren’t successful. We’re still processing it all, but we’re beginning to plan a celebration of his incredible life. He truly was the best dad anyone could ask for. We’re also so thankful we were all able to gather as a family over the holidays — it was the first time in a while that all five of us were in the same place at the same time. We’ll share details about services once they’re set.”
Toulouse had an impressive poker resume, with The Hendon Mob reporting over $550,000 in career tournament winnings. His biggest score came in 2022, when he won the $400 buy-in TCH End of Summer $250K Guaranteed event, pocketing $89,197. More recently, in 2023, he took third place in TCH’s $300 “Even Bigger One” event for $45,000.
He also added a prestigious piece of hardware to his collection last year — a World Series of Poker Circuit ring. Toulouse captured the title in November 2023 at Choctaw Durant, winning Event #14: $250 NLH Turbo for $7,642 after outlasting a 147-player field.
Final Table Results – 2023 WSOPC Choctaw Durant Event #14: $250 NLH Turbo
1st - Mark Toulouse - $7,642
2nd - Taylor Schubert - $4,723
3rd - Eric Chang - $3,273
4th - Gerald Nabours - $2,327
5th - John David Smith - $1,698
6th - Marshall Decker - $1,272
7th - Alex Lee - $979
8th - Jared Hemingway - $776
9th - Patrick Popowski - $633
PokerNews extends its deepest condolences to Mark Toulouse’s family, friends, and the entire poker community who knew and loved him.
