Amarillo Slim Beaten, Robbed

Poker legend Thomas "Amarillo Slim" was beaten and robbed of cash and an $85,000 diamond ring Tuesday night.

According to the Amarillo Globe-News Amarillo Slim was lured to a field expecting to retrieve a four-wheeler as collateral for a $3,000 gambling debt he was owed. Instead he was beaten and robbed of $8,000 in cash and a diamond ring worth $85,000, Amarillo Police Lt. Jim McKenny told the Amarillo Globe-News.

The 1972 World Series of Poker champion went to the hospital with a broken jaw, hand and thumb, the policeman said.

McKenny also stated that it would not be that unusual for Amarillo to have that kind of money and that this wasn't the first time he was robbed.

In October 2006, Preston got shot at in his car when someone tried to rob him. In January 2007, two men broke into his house, jumped him when he got home, tied him up, and robbed him.

"I think it probably has to do with the clientele and people he tends to hang with in the gambling circles," McKenny said.