King’s resort founder Leon Tsoukernik (above, left) collapsed in his home Monday night and is now in serious condition in the hospital after an alleged propofol overdose. [Image: World Poker Tour / Flickr.com]

Propofol the alleged culprit

According to reports out of the Czech Republic, high stakes poker player and former King’s Resort owner Leon Tsoukernik is in grave condition and “fighting for his life” after allegedly overdosing on the sedative propofol.

While details are scarce, Andrea Divišová, a spokeswoman for the regional ambulance service, told the news outlet Novinsky.cz: “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.”

collapsed at his home in Chodová Planá Monday night

The 51-year-old Tsoukernik reportedly collapsed at his home in Chodová Planá Monday night. After being treated by emergency personnel, he was airlifted to a nearby hospital. Novinsky.cz said that his illness is from “unprofessional intravenous administration of a drug intended for short-term anesthesia.”

Drug made infamous in Michael Jackson’s death

Propofol, also known by the brand name Diprivan, is typically used to induce and maintain general anesthesia. The drug tends to have fewer frequent side effects compared to other methods of anesthesia and patients usually recover from its effects more quickly.

Propofol is also used for routine sedation in non-surgical procedures like colonoscopies, as well as for patients in intensive care units. It is also sometimes used as a sleep aid for critically ill patients and those with severe insomnia.

dangerous when not administered and monitored by a trained professional

While propofol is an extremely effective and widely used drug, it is also very dangerous when not administered and monitored by a trained professional. Propofol is one of the drugs, along with lorazepam, midazolam, and diazepam, that killed pop music legend Michael Jackson in 2009. His personal physician, Conrad Murray, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for administering the accidental propofol overdose.

Police are investigating “possible illegal behavior” involved in Tsoukernik’s medical emergency and “criminal proceedings on suspicion of committing the particularly serious crime of grievous bodily harm” have begun.

King of European poker

After building his initial fortune in antiquities, Leon Tsoukernik bought land in Rozvadov, Czech Republic, on the German border, to build King’s Casino (later renamed to King’s Resort). The property opened in June 2003 and in 2009, Tsoukernik remade it into a primarily poker casino; it now boasts the largest poker room in Europe.

Tsoukernik brought the World Series of Poker Europe to King’s Resort in 2017, and the annual poker festival has been there ever since. He sold King’s Resort last June.

An aficionado of both high stakes cash games and tournaments, Tsoukernik has over $5.4m in lifetime live tournament earnings. His biggest cash came in 2017, when he finished 4^th in the Super High Roller Bowl for $1.8m.

Tsoukernik’s best career highlight is arguably his win in the €100,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Short Deck Super High Roller event at the 2019 WSOP Europe at his King’s Resort, in which he bested poker Hall of Famer Phil Ivey heads-up for title.