Dutch Boyd
| Dutch Boyd | |
|---|---|
Boyd in the 2015 World Series of Poker
|
|
| Nickname(s) | Dutch |
| Residence | Culver City, California, U.S. |
| Born | Russell Aaron Boyd 1980 (age 43–44) |
| World Series of Poker | |
| Bracelet(s) | 3 |
| Money finish(es) | 30 |
| Highest ITM Main Event finish |
12, 2003 |
| World Poker Tour | |
| Title(s) | None |
| Final table(s) | None |
| Money finish(es) | 5 |
Russell Aaron Boyd (born December 24, 1980), commonly known as Dutch Boyd, is an American professional poker player from Culver City, California (originally from Columbia, Missouri).
Inspired by the movie Rounders, Boyd began playing online poker day and night through his last year of law school. After graduation, Dutch moved to California and began playing poker during the day and working for a department store at night. During this time Boyd and his brother decided to begin an online casino specializing in poker. He raised $50,000 from family and friends and began the PokerSpot website, which would eventually fail and spark controversy.[1] After the failure of PokerSpot, Boyd suffered from a series of self-alleged mental problems, eventually leading to his commitment for a short time in Antigua.[2]
Contents
Poker
Live tournaments
Boyd received substantial media attention during his deep run on the 2003 World Series of Poker Main Event, where he finished 12th. Shortly after this, he founded a group of young poker players called The Crew that achieved notable success. In addition to playing poker professionally, Boyd attempted to establish another online poker room which charged players a monthly membership fee rather than rake in order to play.[2] This new endeavor would not materialize.
As of 2014, Boyd's total live tournament winnings exceed $2,475,000[3] His 30 cashes at the WSOP account for $1,680,280 of those winnings.[4]
World Series of Poker
| Year | Tournament | Prize (US$) |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | $2,500 Short Handed No Limit Hold'em | $475,712 |
| 2010 | $2,500 Limit Hold'em/Six Handed | $234,065 |
| 2014 | $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em | $288,744 |
Online poker
PokerSpot controversy
Prior to his professional poker career, Boyd was the president and co-founder of the PokerSpot online poker cardroom, which operated from May 2000 to late 2001. PokerSpot was based out of Antigua, but Boyd never obtained an Antiguan gaming license for the cardroom.[5][6] When PokerSpot ceased operations, the cardroom did not refund $400,000 of player funds. A substantial controversy has arisen from actions taken by Boyd and the staff of PokerSpot during this time.
According to Boyd, in January 2001 PokerSpot's credit card processor was late in transferring player funds to PokerSpot. As a result, PokerSpot did not have all the player funds that were being used at their site. Eventually this resulted in PokerSpot being shorted 6 weeks of credit card deposits, which PokerSpot could not cover. Players were unable to cash out, and eventually the site shut down.[7]
When financial problems began with PokerSpot, players who called PokerSpot customer support requesting withdrawal of their deposited funds were told many different stories, ranging from a 30-business-day hold to a promise that their checks were "already in the mail." In an online newsgroup in November 2002, Boyd admitted that players had been deceived. Boyd stated that he told his Customer Support staff to, "... spin it so that the players don't feel the need to make a mad rush on the cardroom OR the need to tell everyone they know that PokerSpot [is] going to hell in a handbasket. Spin it so that the players continue to just keep on playing." [8]
Boyd also angered many players by regularly sending e-mails and posting on the rec.gambling.poker newsgroup in 2000 and 2001, stating that PokerSpot would "make good on all pending cashouts." [9] As of October 2013, this promise has not been fulfilled.
There is a disagreement regarding a potential PokerSpot buyout offer that might have refunded all money deposited by former PokerSpot players. Burton Ritchie posted an open letter on RGP in January 2003 stating the details of the buyout offer, which included the paying off of existing debts and a $200,000 payday and 10% equity stake for Boyd in the new company.[10] While defending himself against Ritchie's claims, Boyd subsequently acknowledged that he had indeed backed out of a deal with Ritchie to pursue a better deal with Golden Palace. Boyd claims that Golden Palace backed out of their deal, which lead Boyd to try and revisit the Ritchie deal, only to find that Ritchie was no longer interested.[11][12] In a newsgroup posting in 2007, Russ's brother Robert Boyd claimed that CyberWorld Group/Golden Palace reneged after hiring away PokerSpot's lead developer.[13]
Two Plus Two lawsuit
In December 2009, Two Plus Two Publishing, a poker publisher founded by Mason Malmuth, filed a lawsuit in federal court in Las Vegas alleging that Boyd and his co-defendant, Jacksname.com, took actions that “have disrupted or are intended to disrupt Two Plus Two’s business by, among other things, diverting web users away from Two Plus Two’s Web sites and forums".[14] Boyd allegedly registered a domain name using the phrase "Two Plus Two" and the word "poker” and then linked the domain name to a poker strategy and gaming services Web site.[14]
Boyd’s response to the lawsuit was that it is "without merit and is designed to encourage me to pay him [Malmuth] off or face a substantial legal bill defending myself against it."[14]
Two Plus Two Publishing's Motion for Partial Summary Judgment was granted by Judge Kent J. Dawson on March 1, 2012. Statutory damages in the amount of $25,000.00 was awarded to the plaintiff, and attorney’s fees and costs were awarded in the amount of $33,985.45.
Poker Tilt book
In March 2013, Boyd announced his first poker book titled Poker Tilt, co-authored by Laurence Samuels. Boyd used Kickstarter to fund publishing the book which was released on May 13, 2014.
References
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- ↑ World Series of Poker Earnings, worldseriesofpoker.com
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- ↑ [1][dead link]
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- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Poker Guide Publisher Sues over Trademark Infringement Green, Steve (2009-12-11), Las Vegas Sun
