Todd Brunson
Encyclopedia
Todd Alan Brunson is an American
professional poker
player and the son of poker legend Doyle Brunson
.
Although Brunson's father Doyle is a poker player, Brunson did not learn the game when he was young. It was not until he was studying law at Texas Tech University
that he learned on his own how to play. Before his senior year, he dropped out of school to go pro.
Most of his years as a poker player have been spent playing cash games. He's a familiar face along with his father at the Bellagio in some of their biggest cash games. In the past few years he's got into more tournament play.
Todd won a bracelet in Omaha High Low at the 2005 World Series of Poker
, making the Brunsons the first father-son combination to each win bracelets at the World Series. Todd Brunson also contributed to his father's book, Super System 2 (the 2005 sequel to Doyle Brunson's poker book Super/System
), writing the Seven Card Stud High Low Eight or Better section.
His nickname
"Darkhorse" comes from a tournament he played early in his career, where he was reckoned to be a huge underdog, but outlasted the likes of Chip Reese
.
He competed in the Poker Superstars 2 Grand Final against Johnny Chan
.
In 2006, he competed in the Poker Superstars 3 Grand Final against Antonio Esfandiari
and defeated him by winning the first three matches in a best three out of five heads-up format. In the third round he was down to 170,000 chips against 3,830,000 chips owned by Esfandiari and eventually won by getting more than five double ups. Brunson took home the $400,000 first prize
In 2006, he competed in the Poker Superstars 2 quarter-finalists freeroll and took home the $500,000 first prize after defeating Ted Forrest
in the final heads-up confrontation.
He is known for having won over $13.5 million in a two day span in a heads-up, $50,000-$100,000 limit hold-em game, as chronicled in 2005 book, The Professor, the Banker, and the Suicide King
.
Todd has also competed in the Ultimate Poker Challenge
series. He has also appeared in the GSN
series High Stakes Poker
.
In 2009, Todd made a guest appearance on one of the final episodes of the series Stargate Atlantis
(#519 "Vegas"), during a poker game set in Las Vegas.
As of 2010, his total live tournament winnings exceed $3,300,000. His 28 cashes as the WSOP account for $767,836 of those winnings.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional poker
Poker
Poker is a family of card games that share betting rules and usually hand rankings. Poker games differ in how the cards are dealt, how hands may be formed, whether the high or low hand wins the pot in a showdown , limits on bet sizes, and how many rounds of betting are allowed.In most modern poker...
player and the son of poker legend Doyle Brunson
Doyle Brunson
Doyle F. Brunson is an American professional poker player who has played professionally for over 50 years. He is the first two-time World Series of Poker main event champion to win consecutively, a Poker Hall of Fame inductee, and the author of several books on poker.Brunson is the first player to...
.
Although Brunson's father Doyle is a poker player, Brunson did not learn the game when he was young. It was not until he was studying law at Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
that he learned on his own how to play. Before his senior year, he dropped out of school to go pro.
Most of his years as a poker player have been spent playing cash games. He's a familiar face along with his father at the Bellagio in some of their biggest cash games. In the past few years he's got into more tournament play.
Todd won a bracelet in Omaha High Low at the 2005 World Series of Poker
2005 World Series of Poker
The 2005 World Series of Poker opened play on June 2, continuing through the Main Event No Limit World Championship starting on July 7. The conclusion of the Main Event on July 15 marked the close of play, and the largest prize in sports and/or television history at the time was awarded to the...
, making the Brunsons the first father-son combination to each win bracelets at the World Series. Todd Brunson also contributed to his father's book, Super System 2 (the 2005 sequel to Doyle Brunson's poker book Super/System
Super/System
Super/System is one of the first books about poker strategy. It was written and published in 1979 by Doyle Brunson, a professional poker player and multiple winner at the World Series of Poker.-History and title:...
), writing the Seven Card Stud High Low Eight or Better section.
His nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
"Darkhorse" comes from a tournament he played early in his career, where he was reckoned to be a huge underdog, but outlasted the likes of Chip Reese
Chip Reese
David Edward Reese , more commonly known as Chip Reese, was an American professional poker player and gambler from Centerville, Ohio...
.
He competed in the Poker Superstars 2 Grand Final against Johnny Chan
Johnny Chan (poker player)
Johnny Chan rather than his Chinese birth name. born in Guangzhou, China in 1957) is a Chinese American professional poker player. He has won 10 World Series of Poker bracelets, including 1987 and 1988 World Series of Poker main events consecutively....
.
In 2006, he competed in the Poker Superstars 3 Grand Final against Antonio Esfandiari
Antonio Esfandiari
Antonio Esfandiari is a professional poker player, known for his elaborate chip tricks.-Early life:When he was 9 years old his family moved to San Jose, California...
and defeated him by winning the first three matches in a best three out of five heads-up format. In the third round he was down to 170,000 chips against 3,830,000 chips owned by Esfandiari and eventually won by getting more than five double ups. Brunson took home the $400,000 first prize
In 2006, he competed in the Poker Superstars 2 quarter-finalists freeroll and took home the $500,000 first prize after defeating Ted Forrest
Ted Forrest
Ted Forrest is an American professional poker player, currently residing in Las Vegas, Nevada.- Tournament Wins:...
in the final heads-up confrontation.
He is known for having won over $13.5 million in a two day span in a heads-up, $50,000-$100,000 limit hold-em game, as chronicled in 2005 book, The Professor, the Banker, and the Suicide King
The Professor, the Banker, and the Suicide King
The Professor, the Banker, and the Suicide King: Inside the Richest Poker Game of All Time is a 2005 book by Michael Craig detailing billionaire Andrew Beal's series of high stakes poker games with Las Vegas' top professional poker players. The book title refers to some of the professional...
.
Todd has also competed in the Ultimate Poker Challenge
Ultimate Poker Challenge
The Ultimate Poker Challenge was a series of weekly poker tournaments acting as super-satellites into the series semi-finals.The first and second seasons are available on NTSC DVD...
series. He has also appeared in the GSN
Game Show Network
The Game Show Network is an American cable television and direct broadcast satellite channel dedicated to game shows and casino game shows. The channel was launched on December 1, 1994. Its current slogan is "The World Needs More Winners"...
series High Stakes Poker
High Stakes Poker
High Stakes Poker is a cash game poker television program broadcast by the cable television network GSN in the United States. The poker variant played on the show is no limit Texas hold 'em. It premiered on January 16, 2006 and ended on December 17, 2007 and it returns back on March 1, 2009 and is...
.
In 2009, Todd made a guest appearance on one of the final episodes of the series Stargate Atlantis
Stargate Atlantis
Stargate Atlantis is a Canadian-American adventure and military science fiction television series and part of MGM's Stargate franchise. The show was created by Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper as a spin-off series of Stargate SG-1, which was created by Wright and Jonathan Glassner and was itself...
(#519 "Vegas"), during a poker game set in Las Vegas.
As of 2010, his total live tournament winnings exceed $3,300,000. His 28 cashes as the WSOP account for $767,836 of those winnings.
World Series of Poker bracelets
| Year | Tournament | Prize (US$) |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 2005 World Series of Poker The 2005 World Series of Poker opened play on June 2, continuing through the Main Event No Limit World Championship starting on July 7. The conclusion of the Main Event on July 15 marked the close of play, and the largest prize in sports and/or television history at the time was awarded to the... |
$2,500 Omaha High-Low Split | $255,945 |