Townsend is largely known for his success playing no limit hold 'em and pot-limit omaha at Full Tilt Poker, playing under the nickname 'sbrugby.'[1]
Townsend began playing online poker at $0.50/$1.00 blinds but gradually moved up in stakes, eventually becoming a regular player in some of the highest stakes games online.[2] By the mid to late 2000s, Townsend was among the most highly respected professional online poker players in the world.[3] Townsend appeared on season 3 of GSN's High Stakes Poker.[4] He also appeared on NBC's Poker After Dark and won $120,000 by beating Doyle Brunson heads up. After considerable success in playing high-stakes games, he was featured on the front cover of the August/September 2007 issue of Cardplayer Magazine and November 2008 issue of Inside Poker.
Although better known to be a heads up and short handed specialist online, Townsend has participated in several live tournaments, including an in the money finish at a World Poker Tour no limit hold 'em event,[5] and a 10th-place finish at a World Series of Poker circuit event.[6] In 2014, Brian Townsend played at the World Series of Poker (for the first time since 2011) and finished 170th out of 6,683 players for a $44,728 payday.[7]
In December 2009, Townsend was accused of sharing hand histories with professional poker players, Cole South and Brian Hastings.[8]
Since Black Friday Brian has spent less time playing live tournaments, and more time playing online.[3] He prefers playing online poker, over the limelight of live tournaments.[9] He regularly participates in road running races and triathlons.
As of 2017, Townsend's total live tournament winnings exceed $460,000.[10]