Nationality
American
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Born (date and place of birth)
July 6, 1970 in Rochester, New York, USA
Residence (current location)
Lake Tahoe, Nevada, USA
Education (institution, specialization)
Degree in Computer Science from Georgia Institute of Technology
Year started playing poker
Circa 2001 (serious tournament play)
Age when started playing
Approximately 31 years old
Year turned professional
Around 2001, when he began significant tournament play
First major win (amount, tournament, year)
World Poker Tour Bay 101 Shooting Stars event, 2004, prize approx. $360,000
Who introduced to poker / first mentor
Early introduction through family poker nights at aunt's house; part of the Tiltboys group which influenced his poker development
First important tournament
Early tournament notable finish was 14th place at WSOP Main Event in 2001
Main motivation for turning pro
Transitioned from tech career to poker attracted by poker’s growing popularity and media presence; affinity for competitive challenge
Initial bankroll
Funded by personal wealth accumulated from tech sector buyout (Cisco Systems acquisition of Netsys Technologies)
Poker education (courses, coaches)
Self-taught supplemented by involvement with Tiltboys; authored books and engaged with poker media for analysis and dissemination
First sponsor/backing
Full Tilt Poker (early team pro and software design contributor)
Total live tournament winnings
Over $1.7 million in live tournament earnings
Number of tournament wins
Multiple including WPT Bay 101 Shooting Stars (2004) and the Live Full Tilt Poker Championship (2006)
Number of final tables
Numerous final tables in WPT, WSOP, and other major events
Largest tournament win (amount, tournament, year)
$600,000 at the 2006 Live Full Tilt Poker Championship
WSOP cashes (number)
Over 20 cash finishes
WSOP final tables
Several, including Omaha 8/Better and Pot-Limit Hold’em events
Best WSOP Main Event result
14th place in 2001 WSOP Main Event
Poker team
Full Tilt Poker former team pro
Main discipline (Hold'em, Omaha, Mixed games)
No-Limit Hold'em, Pot-Limit Omaha, Mixed Games
Format specialization (tournaments/cash/online/live)
Live tournament specialist with some online playing history
Preferred table size (6-max, full ring, heads-up)
Prefer full ring and 6-max formats
Known formats (NLHE, PLO, HORSE, others)
No-Limit Hold’em, Pot-Limit Hold’em, Omaha 8/Better, Mixed Games (including Limit Hold’em)
Specialization limits
Mid to high buy-in tournaments within $1,000 to $25,000 range
Online rooms where plays
Full Tilt Poker (past affiliation)
Favorite casinos/locations
Lake Tahoe casinos, Las Vegas venues including Foxwoods and others
Style characterization (TAG, LAG, nitty, aggressive)
Analytical, methodical, TAG (Tight-Aggressive) with adaptive skills
Known for bluffs/traps
Known for well-timed, strategic aggression, including occasional trapping
Mathematical or intuitive approach
Strongly mathematical and analytical, supported by tech background
Style adaptability
High adaptability to opponents and game conditions, bolstered by group Tiltboys influence
Playing strengths
Game theory proficiency, tournament structure navigation, multi-format aptitude
GTO strategy usage
Proponent and early adopter of game theory concepts in poker strategy
Poker software usage
Involved in software design for Full Tilt Poker site; uses poker analysis tools
Television appearances (list of shows with specific episodes/dates)
Multiple appearances including NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship, Poker After Dark, Celebrity Poker Showdown
High Stakes Poker participation (seasons/episodes)
Participated in some seasons of High Stakes Poker
Poker After Dark appearances (episodes/dates)
Featured in several Poker After Dark episodes around 2007-2010
Major publication interviews (publication names, article titles, links)
Multiple interviews in PokerNews, Poker Player Magazine, and other leading poker publications
Current sponsors (company names, deal details if public)
Full Tilt Poker (historical)
Sponsorship contract history (previous sponsors, dates)
Early Full Tilt Poker pro from mid-2000s to around 2010
Poker site ambassadorship (site names, contract details)
Full Tilt Poker site ambassador during active years
Poker project investments (project names, involvement details)
Involved in software development related to online poker industry
Educational materials (book titles with ISBN, course names with platforms, video series titles with links)
Author of several poker books and instructional materials including "Poker: The Real Deal"
Written poker books (titles, publication years, ISBN, publisher)
Author of "Poker: The Real Deal" and other poker instructional books
Poker publication articles (publication names, article titles, publication dates, links)
Contributor to poker magazines and analysis websites
Special achievements (achievement descriptions, recognition details)
Part of key group Tiltboys credited with advancing poker strategy and culture in mid-2000s; significant influence on online poker software development
Contribution to poker development (specific contributions, recognition)
Helped design software for Full Tilt Poker; contributed to growth of televised poker and online poker ecosystems
Charity tournaments (tournament names, amounts raised, beneficiaries)
Organizer and participant in fundraising events for Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation
Legacy in poker world (specific legacy aspects, community impact)
Seen as influential player and author who helped popularize and develop modern tournament poker and online poker software
Industry influence (specific influences, changes attributed)
Major role in early online poker platform development and poker media coverage
WSOP (World Series of Poker) - all events all years
2001 | USA | WSOP | Las Vegas | Main Event No Limit Hold'em | 10000 | 14th | 399610 | 613 | | 2002 | USA | WSOP | Las Vegas | Pot Limit Hold'em | 2000 | 6th | 14220 | | | 2002 | USA | WSOP | Las Vegas | Omaha 8/Better | 2500 | 3rd | 33840 | | | 2005 | USA | WSOP | Las Vegas | No Limit Hold'em | 1000 | | 66055 | | | 2010 | USA | WSOP | Las Vegas | Heads Up Championship | 10000 | | 38424 | |
Provided expert commentary for WSOP Internet broadcasts and other major poker events