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 and attended the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science, an early entrance college program
Williams was self taught to play no-limit Texas Hold'em tournaments. He was then mentored in poker by Marcel Lüske, with whom they both had a mutual friend in the Netherlands, 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 became a member of Team Bodog after the 2004 World Series of Poker.
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.
Williams now has his own vlog that offers an inside look at his personal and professional life. The webisodes air on the internet TV channel RawVegas.tv
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 in 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♠).
His mother Shirley Williams 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.[3] and she cashed in 465th place in the 2007 World Series of Poker main event.
As of 2008, his total live tournament winnings exceed $5,800,000.
David Williams
This young, charismatic tournament and online-savvy player is a force to be reckoned with. In 2004 alone, David won $3.5 Million for his Runner Up Finish at the WSOP Main Event and $573,000 for his Runner Up Finish at the WPT. Coming from a college background including Princeton and Southern Methodist University, David is an active World Poker Tour Professional, Professional Poker Tour Participant, and Card Player Magazine cover story. Before poker, David, now 25 years old, was an avid "Magic" player, a game that is only played one-on-one. Within the last year, David Williams has truly established himself as an important part of the professional poker tour landscape. With Two Second Place finishes in key tournaments, the Borgata Poker Open and the World Series of Poker "No Limit Hold'em Poker Championship, David proves his tournament mettle. David is one of the World Poker Tour's "Young Guns" and has been featured in Playboy and ALL IN Magazines as the Future of Poker.
More Background
His Magic Days David traveled the world playing "Magic - The Gathering" a card game with the features of chess, bridge & poker. During his travels he made many friends, including Noah Boeken who is also now making his living as a professional poker player like David.
What is David Like?
If you ask people who know David, his friends and family, about him you will get all the pieces of an amazing puzzle that becomes the David Williams people see at the table and on the final table poker tournament coverage on TV. David is smart and mature for his age, he has needed to be as he grew up in a single parent household, so he has always felt the need to be responsible. David is competitive- he wants to win - period. Second place is nice but it is not first to him who is always striving to be the best in all he does. He is wicked smart with an SAT score of 1550 Princeton welcomed David with open arms but he found a better college fit in his home state of Texas at Southern Methodist University. Polite and reliable are the comments of the people who do business with David, he follows through and does what he says he is going to do. David accepts reality, which helps him with the roller coaster ride of a nontraditional career in poker- he doesn't allow the ups & downs to waver him from his goal to win at the table and in the long run.
