Nationality
American
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Born (date and place of birth)
June 9, 1980, Arlington, Texas, United States
Residence (current location)
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Education (institution, specialization)
Attended Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science; early college program at University of North Texas; studied economics at Southern Methodist University after briefly attending Princeton University
Year started playing poker
Early 2000s, professional poker career notably launched with the 2004 WSOP Main Event
Age when started playing
Approximately started serious poker involvement around age 23-24
Year turned professional
2004, after breakout success at WSOP Main Event
First major win (amount, tournament, year)
2006 WSOP $1,500 Seven-Card Stud event, winning $163,118 (first WSOP bracelet)
First important tournament
2004 WSOP Main Event, finishing runner-up and winning $3.5 million
Main motivation for turning pro
Transitioned from Magic: The Gathering to poker for greater profitability and competitive challenge
Initial bankroll
Won buy-in to 2004 WSOP Main Event through online poker site satellite
Poker education (courses, coaches)
Developed strategic skills through Magic: The Gathering competitive play; self-trained through experience and competition
First sponsor/backing
Bodog, sponsorship began shortly after 2004 WSOP success
Total live tournament winnings
Over $9,800,000 in live tournament earnings as of mid-2025
Number of tournament wins
9 major tournament titles
Number of final tables
61 final table appearances
Largest tournament win (amount, tournament, year)
$3,500,000 runner-up prize at 2004 WSOP Main Event
WSOP bracelets (number)
1 (2006 $1,500 Seven-Card Stud event)
WSOP cashes (number)
Over 100 cash finishes
WSOP final tables
Multiple final tables including the 2004 Main Event runner-up
Best WSOP Main Event result
2nd place, 2004 WSOP Main Event
Online tournament winnings
Won 2009 WCOOP Event #42 ($2,100 8-Game) for $107,800 under screen name "RugDoctor"
Major online titles
2009 WCOOP Event #42 champion
Poker team
Represented Bodog for ~7 years post-2004; later joined Team PokerStars after 2010
Highest stakes played
Played high-stakes events such as $25,000 WPT World Championship
Statistics by year (best/worst year)
Active with consistent cashes and deep runs from 2004 through 2025, with peak years mid-2000s to early 2010s
Main discipline (Hold'em, Omaha, Mixed games)
No-Limit Hold'em primarily, also strong in mixed games including Seven-Card Stud and Pot-Limit Omaha
Format specialization (tournaments/cash/online/live)
Live tournaments predominantly, also online multi-format events
Preferred table size (6-max, full ring, heads-up)
Primarily full ring tables; experience in 6-max and mixed format
Known formats (NLHE, PLO, HORSE, others)
No-Limit Hold'em, Seven-Card Stud, Pot-Limit Omaha, Mixed games including 8-Game and Big O
Specialization limits
Tournament buy-ins ranging from low hundreds to $25,000 high rollers
Online rooms where plays
PokerStars (former); known online screen name "RugDoctor" in past
Favorite casinos/locations
Bellagio, Borgata, Bay 101, Wynn, Venetian, Mirage - known frequent venues on WPT and WSOP circuits
Style characterization (TAG, LAG, nitty, aggressive)
Analytical and strategic, blending experience from MTG with tactical poker play; observant and resilient
Known for bluffs/traps
Tactical and strategic bluffing, capable of trapping due to mixed game skills
Mathematical or intuitive approach
Combination of mathematical and intuitive approaches shaped by MTG strategic background and poker experience
Style adaptability
Demonstrated high adaptability across poker variants and tournament formats
Playing strengths
Expertise in mixed game formats, strong intuition from MTG, endurance, and versatility in poker disciplines
GTO strategy usage
Utilizes modern poker theory and GTO concepts adapted over career evolution
Poker software usage
Likely uses poker analysis and training software to maintain competitiveness (typical of high-level pros)
Television appearances (list of shows with specific episodes/dates)
Featured on televised events including WSOP Main Event broadcasts and WPT coverage; participant on GGPoker's Game of Gold 2023 season
Poker After Dark appearances (episodes/dates)
Competed on Poker After Dark reboot "Game of Gold" (GGPoker, 2023)
Major publication interviews (publication names, article titles, links)
Featured in PokerNews, GGPoker profiles, and other major poker media outlets
Current sponsors (company names, deal details if public)
Formerly Bodog (~2004-2010), later PokerStars (~2010-?)
Sponsorship contract history (previous sponsors, dates)
Bodog (2004-2010), PokerStars post-2010
Poker site ambassadorship (site names, contract details)
Bodog, PokerStars
Poker publication articles (publication names, article titles, publication dates, links)
Featured in PokerNews and GGPoker player profiles
Poker scandal involvement (scandal names, details, outcomes)
Notable Magic: The Gathering disqualification in 2001 for marked cards; no poker-related scandals reported
Accusations of unfair play (specific incidents, resolutions)
No poker cheating accusations
Peer recognition (specific recognitions, award details)
Respected for his transition from MTG to top-level poker and mixed game prowess
Special achievements (achievement descriptions, recognition details)
2004 WSOP Main Event runner-up ($3.5M), 2006 WSOP bracelet winner, 2010 WPT World Championship winner ($1.5M), 2009 WCOOP champion (8-Game)
Contribution to poker development (specific contributions, recognition)
Exemplified successful crossover from strategic card gaming to poker; increased awareness of mixed game formats
Legacy in poker world (specific legacy aspects, community impact)
Renowned as one of the best players with MTG roots; influential in bridging strategic gaming and poker worlds
Industry influence (specific influences, changes attributed)
Helped popularize multi-format poker understanding through success across variants
WSOP (World Series of Poker) - all events all years
2025|USA|World Series of Poker|Las Vegas|$1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Double Board Bomb Pot Eight Max|$1,500|24|$9,709| | | |||| 2025|USA|World Series of Poker|Las Vegas|$10,000 Big O|$10,000|26|$24,635| | | |||| 2024|USA|World Series of Poker Online|NV-NJ-MI|$500 No-Limit Hold'em|$500|111|$1,300| | | |||| 2024|USA|World Series of Poker Online|NV-NJ-MI|$1,000 No-Limit Hold'em Super Turbo|$1,000|100|$2,224| | | |||| 2024|USA|World Series of Poker|Las Vegas|$3,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Six Max|$3,000|104|$6,021| | | |||| 2024|USA|World Series of Poker Online|NV-NJ-MI|$1,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Six Max|$1,000|44|$2,776| | | |||| 2024|USA|World Series of Poker Online|NV-NJ-MI|$1,000 No-Limit Hold'em Mystery Bounty $1 Million GTD|$1,000|151|$1,773| | | |||| 2024|USA|World Series of Poker|Las Vegas|$1,000 No-Limit Hold'em Flip & Go|$1,000|99|$2,200| | | |||| 2004|USA|World Series of Poker|Las Vegas|No-Limit Hold'em Main Event|$10,000|2|$3,500,000|2642| |
WSOP Online events
2024|USA|World Series of Poker Online|NV-NJ-MI|$500 No-Limit Hold'em|$500|111|$1,300| | | |||| 2024|USA|World Series of Poker Online|NV-NJ-MI|$1,000 No-Limit Hold'em Super Turbo|$1,000|100|$2,224| | | |||| 2024|USA|World Series of Poker Online|NV-NJ-MI|$1,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Six Max|$1,000|44|$2,776| | | |||| 2024|USA|World Series of Poker Online|NV-NJ-MI|$1,000 No-Limit Hold'em Mystery Bounty $1 Million GTD|$1,000|151|$1,773| | |
Aria High Roller Series
2024|USA|ARIA High Roller Series|ARIA|Pot-Limit Omaha High Roller #8|$5,000|9|$8,700| | |
WCOOP (World Championship of Online Poker)
2009|Online|World Championship of Online Poker|WCOOP|8-Game Event #42|$2,100|1|$107,800| | |
Bay 101 tournaments
2006|USA|Bay 101|Bay 101|No-Limit Hold'em Championship|$10,000|9|$70,000| | |
Venetian tournaments
2018-2019|USA|Venetian Resort|Venetian|WPT event| |13|$26,890| | |
Wynn Classic
2023|USA|Wynn Las Vegas|Wynn|WPT event| |445|$18,700| | |
Bellagio tournaments
Multiple years|USA|Bellagio Resort & Casino|Bellagio|Various WPT and tournament events| |Various|Various winnings| | |
Poker After Dark
2023|USA|Poker After Dark|GGPoker|Game of Gold season| | | | | |
Other platform results
nationality: American