Overdosed on propofol
King’s Resort founder Leon Tsoukernik is in the hospital after an alleged overdose on the sedative and anesthesia component propofol. He allegedly collapsed at his home in the Czech Republic late Monday night and was life-flighted to a nearby hospital.
“I can confirm that we had two crews with a doctor on site. We handed the patient over to the air ambulance service in serious condition,” Andrea Divišová, a spokesperson for the ambulance service, told local news outlet Novinsky.cz.
Few details are available as to what happened or how Tsoukernik is doing. Shortly after the incident, word was that he was “fighting for his life,” but late Tuesday night, poker pro Tony G, a good friend of his, tweeted that another friend visited Tsoukernik in the hospital and reported, “In spite being in a very serious condition the belief is that Leon will live.”
Effective in anesthesia
Propofol is a widely used component of anesthesia used in surgeries, as well as in non-surgical procedures in which the patient is on mechanical ventilation. It is extremely effective and generally has fewer side effects than other medications. Recovery from its use is also faster.
The drug is also used for routine sedation.
As one might guess, propofol is very dangerous if not administered and monitored by a trained, conscientious professional. Despite its importance in medicine, the drug became notorious in 2009 when it was determined that it was the primary cause of “King of Pop” Michael Jackson’s death. Jackson’s personal doctor, Conrad Murray, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for administering the overdose.
Brought WSOP Europe to Czech Republic
Leon Tsoukernik looms large in the poker community, having founded King’s Casino in Rozvadov, Czech Republic, in 2003. An avid high-stakes poker player, both in tournaments and cash games, Tsoukernik made King’s Casino primarily a poker destination in 2009.
Known among high-stakes poker players but not the more casual poker community, Tsoukernik cemented his poker legacy when he attracted the World Series of Poker Europe to King’s Casino (now King’s Resort) in 2017. The annual poker festival has remained at Europe’s largest poker room ever since and shows no signs of looking elsewhere.
Tsoukernik sold his stake in King’s Resort last year to free himself up to pursue other opportunities.
On the felt, Tsoukernik has amassed more than $5.4 million in live tournament earnings. His largest cash was for $1.8 million after a fourth-place finish at the 2017 Super High Roller Bowl, but perhaps his most notable accomplishment was when he defeated the legendary Phil Ivey heads-up to win the €100,000 No-Limit Hold’em Short Deck Super High Roller at the 2019 WSOP Europe.
Image: World Poker Tour via Flickr
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