Dave Walsh (esports player)

David Walsh (born June 23, 1984) is a professional gamer, entrepreneur, writer, and commentator.^[1] His career in gaming began in March 2003, originally under the pseudonym Hotshy, and later under the name Walshy and briefly yshlaW. Walsh is widely regarded as the greatest and most successful Halo player of all time. Walshy is currently a commentator for the Halo Championship Series.

Professional Gaming

Walsh turned pro in 2004.^[2] co-led teams including FFA, DtO and 3D, eventually becoming the team captain of the Major League Gaming four-on-four team Final Boss from the 2004 season until July 23, 2008, when it was announced that Final Boss had released him from the team.^[3] In June, 2006, he signed a contract with Dr. Pepper worth one million dollars over three years, and another contract with Red Bull.^[4] Walsh has been featured in Electronic Gaming Monthly,^[5] BPM, WZZM news station, Lansing State Journal, Game Informer Monthly, MTV, and The Grand Rapids Press. Walsh is the second runner-up in MLG one-on-one championship and has also been shown on all of the Boost Mobile MLG Pro Circuit episodes on USA Network in 2006. In 2006 Walshy started Kiaeneto, a line of clothing for gamers. After his former team, Final Boss, placed poorly at two of MLG's 2008 tournaments, (San Diego [7th], Orlando [5th]) his teammates (Ogre2, Ogre1, and Strongside) decided to drop him from the team for fellow MLG Pro Player Neighbor, formerly of Str8 Rippin. He then played for Team Instinct with whom he placed second with at MLG Toronto ahead of his former team, Final Boss, who finished 3rd. When asked how it felt to beat his former team, he replied, "It was like taking candy from a baby, but I think the baby would have put up a better fight."^[6] Then soon after in MLG Dallas his new team Instinct placed 5th behind Final Boss, who placed 3rd once again.^[7][8]

In 2009, Walsh and Team Instinct dropped Soviet from the group and added Neighbor to their roster, with this new line-up they placed 2nd at MLG Meadowlands, ahead of Walsh's old team Final Boss. He was then dropped by Instinct and went into Dallas with his new team, Carbon, which placed 2nd. Following their 2nd place finish in Dallas, in Anaheim 2009, Instinct placed 3rd. He also serves as a board member of Gamers Outreach Foundation—a charity that uses video games for various community projects.^[9]

On March 1, 2012, Walsh announced his retirement^[10] from competitive gaming on the Major League Gaming website, stating that he will continue working for MLG as a Halo commentator. He also hinted that he was going to "continue working in gaming in more than one way", while remaining on the Gamers Outreach Board of Directors as well as continuing to work with the Entertainment Consumers Association. However, he also stated that he will no longer be working with Kiaeneto, the gaming clothing line that he co-founded.

Personal life

Walsh grew up in Grandville, Michigan. He graduated from Grandville High School in 2003. He was a member of the school's tennis and wrestling teams.^[11] Prior to becoming a pro, he worked with his dad at a post office in Grand Rapids. He decided to leave college after a year to pursue a gaming career.

He was an author of the Prima Games guide books on Battlefield 4, Titanfall, and illustrated maps on the Halo: The Master Chief Collection Multiplayer map book.^[12]

References

External links

• Dave Walsh Facebook