Brian Townsend (poker player)
| Brian Townsend | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | sbrugby, aba20, "Btown" |
| Residence | Santa Barbara, California |
| Born | 1982 (age 41–42) |
| World Series of Poker | |
| Money finish(es) | 3 |
| Highest ITM Main Event finish | 170th, 2014 |
| World Poker Tour | |
| Title(s) | None |
| Final table(s) | None |
| Money finish(es) | 1 |
Brian Townsend (born 1982) is an American professional poker player. He graduated from the UC Santa Barbara and played Lock for UCSB's 2005 league championship rugby team.
Biography[edit]
Townsend is largely known for his success playing no limit hold 'em and pot-limit omaha at Full Tilt Poker, playing under the nickname 'sbrugby.'[1]
Townsend began playing online poker at $0.50/$1.00 blinds but gradually moved up in stakes, eventually becoming a regular player in some of the highest stakes games online.[2] By the mid to late 2000s, Townsend was among the most highly respected professional online poker players in the world.[3] Townsend appeared on season 3 of GSN's High Stakes Poker.[4] He also appeared on NBC's Poker After Dark and won $120,000 by beating Doyle Brunson heads up. After considerable success in playing high-stakes games, he was featured on the front cover of the August/September 2007 issue of Cardplayer Magazine and November 2008 issue of Inside Poker.
Although better known to be a heads up and short handed specialist online, Townsend has participated in several live tournaments, including an in the money finish at a World Poker Tour no limit hold 'em event,[5] and a 10th place finish at a World Series of Poker circuit event.[6] In 2014, Brian Townsend played at the World Series of Poker (for the first time since 2011) and finished 170th out of 6,683 players for a $44,728 payday.[7]
In December 2009, Townsend was accused of sharing hand histories with professional poker players, Cole South and Brian Hastings.[8]
Since Black Friday Brian has spent less time playing live tournaments, and more time playing online.[3] He prefers playing online poker, over the limelight of live tournaments.[9] He regularly participates in road running races and triathlons.
As of 2017, Townsend's total live tournament winnings exceed $460,000.[10]
References[edit]
- ^ The Official World Poker Tour Magazine Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Brian "sbrugby" Townsend Interviewed on Rounders". typepad.com. Retrieved March 19, 2017.
- ^ a b "Brian Townsend On Day 2 of 2014 WSOP Razz $10,000 Championship - Poker News Video". cardplayer.com. Retrieved March 19, 2017.
- ^ Machoka, Jacob (January 30, 2022). "The Rise and Fall of Brian Townsend". HighStakesDB. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
- ^ "Festa Al Lago V Poker Tournament, No Limit Hold'em - Championship Event". The Hendon Mob. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
- ^ "WSOP Circuit - WSOPC New Orleans, Championship Event - No Limit Hold'em". The Hendon Mob. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
- ^ "45th World Series of Poker - WSOP 2014, World Championship - No Limit Hold'em (Event #65)". The Hendon Mob. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
- ^ Wise, Gary (December 14, 2009). "Talented and Disciplined". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 11, 2010.
- ^ "Brian Townsend. Poker Player". pokerplayer365.com. Retrieved March 19, 2017.
- ^ "Brian Townsend's profile on The Hendon Mob". The Hendon Mob Poker Database. Retrieved March 30, 2024.