Murray Brown

[tikay]

Murray Brown.

Very sad to hear from a Luton regular this morning that Murray has passed away.

I doubt many younger players have heard of Murray, but he’s been on the poker scene for ever, just doing his thing.

He has a THM going back to 1991, but he was more of a cash game player really.

His Tourney results say so much about him, though. He has “flags” from 6 or 7 different countries, but more illuminating is that of 30 flags, only 2 or 3 were for Hold Em, & they were either PL or Limit, I think.

Look at this for a variety of flags….

8 Game

PLO, 8 or Better

PLO

PL 7CS

Courcheval

7CS

PL7CS 8 or Better

His THM is here…..

http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=940


In 2003, remarkably, at the Taleon Club, in St Petersburg, (where by chance I met him the following year, & he saved my bacon big time, but that is another story) he played their Fessie for 4 straight days & finished 5th, 1st, 1st, & 1st.  The previous year, 2002, he only managed a 6th, 4th & 6th.

Those field sizes in Taleon were small, maybe 30 or 40 runners, but taking on fields full of Russians back then was quite an intimidating thing, & English is not spoken at the Table there.

I bumped into him all over the place back then, most usually @ ACF in Paris, but always far from home, though more recently, he was a stalwart of the DC Cash Game in Luton.

I believe he had family in Brazil, too, he was very widely travelled.

He used to come to Luton with young Shirley. It would be fair to say that the pair of them liked a bit of a chunter, very moany-woany sometimes, hence I coined the nickname “Hinge & Bracket” for them.

So no, not an angel, but he was always very polite, considerate & respectful to me.

I doubt I have ever known anyone who was such a tough opponent in split pot games, Stud most especially, where he had an uncanny knack of precisely identifying opponents holdings.

He gave me tons of poker help & advice, as well as getting me out of a really tough spot in St Petersburg back in ‘04, & I think I became a better player because of him. He not only knew the game well, but he knew HOW to teach it, & explain it, in a way I could understand. 

When he was at the DC Table, he most definitely was not “value”, & I tried to avoid playing big pots with him, because he could out-think most of us, & was just too good for me.

I have not seen him for a year or more – I believe he had a falling out with Luton Management, and as is always the case in these matters, I wish I had seen more of him in his final year.

Always smartly attired, he could be a perfect gentleman when needed, but if anyone wanted to shoot their mouth, he was well up for it, proper feisty he could be.

RIP Murray.   


PS - The photo has been taken from THM, as I could not find another, acknowledgement is given to The Hendon Mob Database.

[TightEnd]

RIP Murray.

He can't have been any age at all, really and as tikay says, a fierce player on those DC games

[tikay]

I do not know his age, Rich, but maybe 55 or so?

I believe he succumbed to cancer.

[celtic]

Seen him at the vic just before Christmas.

RIP.

[doubleup]

Sad to hear that news.  I met Murray in St Pete as well.  Good times.

[tikay]

Sad to hear that news.  I met Murray in St Pete as well.  Good times.

He went there every year for a good many years, & had a suite in the "Taleon Palace", which was the Hotel where Taleon Club was. Even back then a Suite was €700 per night, but I'm sure he had some sort of deal, as he used to try & recruit players to play there.

I met him in Moscow in '04 or '05, too, quite by chance, at a joint run by a dodgy sort from London. That trip ended in tears, big time, for one or two, I got arrested at the airport, a bunch of money was confiscated from my travelling companions, & the chap that organised our trip died in a plane crash before I got paid, as I had done some commentary work & stuff out there.

It was sort of awkward writing to his widow & asking for my money, so it got chalked down to experience.  

[The Camel]

First time I ever met Murray Brown:

£10 rebuy tournament at Luton.

10 minutes left of the rebuy period and I bang on tilt. In for £120 or so I was going allin blind trying to gt a stack.

UTG I was allin, got raised allin 3 times.

On their backs. I had J2o, the other hands were AA, QQ and AKs.

We were just sorting out the various side pots when Murray turns up to fill our empty seat from a broken table.

He looks at the massive pot. Then all the hands that were on their backs and the players who owned them.

Without even sitting down or unracking his chips he comes over to me and offers his hand.

"Hello, I don't believe we've met. My name is Murray Brown. Do you know I run a private game?"

[tikay]

Great story Keith, on so many levels, thanks.

He ran private games for many a year, as did Shirley. I believe he was quite selective as to who he had invited.

Later, he just sat in other peoples private games I believe, including, recently, one run by a well known face quite near Luton. 

He could be very laconic, & dry, & achingly funny in a sort of Karabiner way, if you know what I mean - little short one-liners that you had to think about.

[The Camel]

Great story Keith, on so many levels, thanks.

He ran private games for many a year, as did Shirley. I believe he was quite selective as to who he had invited.

Later, he just sat in other peoples private games I believe, including, recently, one run by a well known face quite near Luton. 

He could be very laconic, & dry, & achingly funny in a sort of Karabiner way, if you know what I mean - little short one-liners that you had to think about.

I could never claim to be his biggest fan.

But always sad when someone passes away so young.

[Skgv]

I knew Murray very well an to be honest I don't like many people an he was another I have had a falling out wt in the poker world. We did get on in the early days as I've known him from Luton an the Vic for nearly 2 decades but as in general u don't really get to see the good side of people on the poker table an wheres he could be charming he could also be vicious an cruel. But that aside its also a shame when anyone leaves this world an he will be remembered an no matter people's different opinions in life it's always sad when they leave us.

Though we had many a verbal an nearly a fist cuff fight in Luton an in London I must admit I learnt a lot about dealers choice from Murray an discipline which I must rediscover ! He an Shirley had a unusual table presence but I guess that's the difference from live to online an I don't think you get those characters on tables nowadays! I got many a story on Murray but for now rest in peace.

[Karabiner]

I've known Murray for a long time and am shocked to hear of his passing at such a young age.

We were never close friends, more nodding acquaintances across several decades but I always had a great if sometimes grudging respect for his patience, discipline and game-selection.

He was a proper pro.

RIP

[blonde17]

 

All of the above ...
He was a character, and whilst not "everybodys cup of tea",he was knowledgable and fair and despite many a run in with him, he had my respect and always will.....One tough poker player!

RIP.

[relaedgc]

For the most part, I always got along with Murray Brown - he wasn't the easiest person to get along with but you're always going to find that with opinionated individuals. You're able to tolerate them, or not as the case may be.

I'd heard that he had cancer, and I was sorry to hear of it. Despite the fact that we'd stopped allowing him to play at Luton of late because of his luring players to 'private games' I am sorry to hear of his passing.

He was, bar the occasional moan, a good man.

[tikay]

If there could be such a thing as a good obituary thread, it is this one.

It's clear from almost every comment that Murray was not an angel, & several got the wrong side of him from time to time, but everyone has been respectful.

As a poker player, he earned that.