David Williams (card player)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 David Williams in the 2004 World Series of Poker |
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| Nickname(s) | None |
|---|---|
| Hometown | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| World Series of Poker | |
| Bracelet(s) | 1 |
| Money finishes | 5 |
| Highest ITM main event finish | 2nd (2004) |
| World Poker Tour | |
| Titles | None |
| Final tables | 3(+1) |
| Money Finishes | 6 |
David Anthony Williams (born June 9, 1980 in Arlington, Texas) is a professional poker and Magic: The Gathering player. He was a student at Princeton University and studied Economics at Southern Methodist University.
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[edit] Magic
His initial foray into Magic's Pro Tour came in the late 1990s. He had already won over $30,000 playing Magic when he made the cutoff for the final day of competition of the 2001 World Championships in Toronto. However, he was disqualified without prize for marked cards because all four of his Accumulated Knowledge cards were bent more than the other cards in his deck. The tournament's judging staff determined that the bending was not accidental and that Williams had cheated.
- Each time Williams cut his deck as part of pregame shuffling procedure, a copy of Accumulated Knowledge was on top.
- The judges were able to cut his deck to a copy of Accumulated Knowledge each time they tried.
Williams admitted that the cards were marked but disputed the determination that he cheated. Williams was suspended by the DCI from sanctioned Magic: The Gathering tournaments for one year.[1]
During this suspension, Williams started to play high-stakes Texas hold 'em, especially on the Internet. He made a successful comeback after his suspension was finished, and won money at several more Magic events, though his focus was mainly on poker.
[edit] Poker
Williams was self taught to play no-limit Texas Hold'em tournaments. And then mentored in poker by Marcel Lüske, with whom they both had a mutual friend in Holland, Noah Boeken.
Williams's poker success was capped at the 2004 World Series of Poker. He won his buy-in through an online poker site and made it to the finals of the main event, ultimately finishing second to Greg Raymer, but still winning $3.5 million for the runner-up prize. His second-place finish is the best ever by an African American in a WSOP Main Event, besting Phil Ivey's 10th place finish a year earlier.
Four months later, he finished second at the Borgata Open World Poker Tour where he collected $573,800. David Williams was accepted into the Team Bodog after his exceptional performance at the 2004 World Series of Poker, where he enjoys the company of other high profile poker players such as Josh Arieh and Evelyn Ng.
In March 2006, Williams made a second WPT final table, finishing 4th for $280,000. Two months later he made another WPT final table, again finishing 4th.
Williams also appeared on the game show King of Vegas, finishing in third place.
Even though there is more money that can be made in professional poker than in professional Magic, Williams has said he will continue to play both games, although poker will take precedence. Like many who play both, he has asserted that the two are for different purposes: he plays Magic to have fun, and poker to make money.
Williams won his first WSOP bracelet in 2006 at the $1,500 Seven-card stud event when his K♠ 3♥ 4♣ J♦ (6♠ 4♠ J♥) defeated John Hoang's 4♣ 5♠ 9♦ 3♣ (A♦ 8♠ T♠).
As of 2006, his total live tournament winnings exceed $5,400,000.
[edit] Trivia
- Williams has been the target of reoccurring Internet gossip since 2004 due to an apparent appearance in a pornographic video some years ago, [2] although he has denied appearing in any such video. [3]
- Williams' mother Shirley often attends poker events in which he plays, and even competed in the 2006 WSOP main event, outlasting her son in the process. She also played in the $1,000 L.I.P.S. (Ladies only) W.S.O.P. event. [4]
- Williams previously attended the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science, an early entrance college program. [5]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Wizards.com
- ^ Rec.Gambling.Poker May 28, 2004
- ^ Williams no runner-up
- ^ Shirley Williams Doubles Up
- ^ David Williams: The Bright, Young Mind - Bodog Player Profile
