2010 WSOP: Russ "Dutch" Boyd Wins Event #23 $2,500 buy-in Six-Handed No Limit Hold'em

Poker Pro Russ “Dutch” Boyd outlasted 384 poker hopefuls to emerge as the winner of Event #23, a $2,500 buy-in Six-Handed Limit Hold’em tournament in the 2010 World Series of Poker. It was the second career gold bracelet victory for Russ "Dutch" Boyd, who also won the the top cash prize of $234,065. Russ "Dutch" Boyd also won his first bracelet in a similar Six-Handed No Limit event in 2006, where he defeated then-reigning WSOP Main Event champion Joe Hachem in heads-up play.

Russ "Dutch" Boyd has now more than $1.2 million in career WSOP winnings, and 15 ITM finishes in the WSOP.

Russ "Dutch" Boyd overcame the 4-to-1 chip lead of Brian Meinders in heads-up play to eventually bag the win and his second WSOP gold bracelet. Poker pro Brian Meinders from Jackson, New Jersey, cashed out $144,650 for his second place finish - the second time he's cashed in the WSOP.

The third-place finisher was Albert Minnullin, from Moscow, Russia, who earned $93,892, marking his second time to cash at the WSOP.

The fourth-place finisher was Julian Parmann, from Las Vegas, Nevada. who won $62,769, also marking his second cash in this year's WSOP.

The fifth-place finisher was Italian-born American Domenico De Notaristefani, of Mendham, New Jersey, who cashed in $42,117 - his second time to cash at the WSOP.


The sixth-place finisher was Al “Sugar Bear” Barbieri, who collected $30,399.

Russ "Dutch" Boyd had some impressive things to say when interviewed following his win. His positive thinking and approach to poker is surely commendable. When asked about poker bad beats and emotional stability, Russ "Dutch" Boyd said:

“I get so tired of bad beats. I don’t even tell them anymore. You go outside, out in the hallway, and all these guys are just moping around. They all have a cloud of doom around them. They talk about how unlucky they are. I’m like – ‘Dude, you aren’t unlucky. You’re at the World Series! That’s lucky. You’re alive. That’s lucky. Some people in the world are struggling and dying and you are here. You’re lucky.’ People who complain about their luck just don’t get it.”

On his approach to this year’s WSOP, Russ "Dutch" Boyd said:

“I did two things different this year. And it really paid off. I went into this tournament with a healthy respect for everybody I was against at the table. I feel like in the past, I resented them. I try now to go in with a healthy respect, even liking them. The other thing is to go in feeling like I am the luckiest player there. I am the luckiest player alive."