Daniel Negreanu - Professional Poker Player. The hottest player in poker right now is unquestionably -- Daniel Negreanu. "KidPoker" has been 'the force' over the past year - which includes both live action and tournaments. He was Card Player magazine's "Player of the Year" in 2004. Among other titles, he won the Bellagio's Five Diamond World Poker Classic on the World Poker Tour last month - good for $1,770,000 in prize money. He also won his third gold bracelet at the 2004 World Series of Poker (Limit Hold'em). Negreanu was born in 1974 to Romanian parents in Toronto, Canada. He quit high school to play poker full time and beat most of the home games. Confident he could make a good living, Negreanu came to Las Vegas but failed the first time he tried to beat the middle-limit games on The Strip. Negreanu returned home to Canada and was determined more than ever to succeed as a poker player. He took the game even more seriously and began studying. He could be seen at many tournaments watching final tables intensely, learning how to play in short-handed situations. He also learned more about his opponents, including many top pros he would eventually face in tournaments. Negreanu's breakthrough came at the 1999 World Poker Finals at Foxwoods, and his first WSOP came later that year. Negreanu went through a tough transition when he moved from Canada to play in Las Vegas full time. However, he stuck with the game and soon began writing about his experiences. Negreanu, now aged 30, has evolved into one of poker's brightest stars, and most respected players. He routinely plays in the biggest cash games and wins the most prestigious poker tournaments.
Hobbies: Golf, Fantasy Hockey Leagues, Movies
Favorite Movie: Good Will Hunting
Favorite Music: Bob Marley +various others
Favorite Place in the world: Las Vegas
Favorite Celebrity: Michael Jordan, for his motivation and drive to be the best of the best.
Major Poker Accomplishments:
1997: Best All Around Player, World Poker Finals.
1998: WSOP Pot Limit Hold'em at age 23. First WSOP event ever played.
1999: United States Poker Champion.
1997-1999: 12 major tournament wins, more than any other player.
2000: Played exclusively live action in Las Vegas at the Bellagio.
2001: 11th in the main event at the WSOP.
2001: Legends of Poker 7-card stud, 1st
2002: Best All around Player at the L.A.P.C.
2002: Legends of Poker 2002 Event # 5 7- Card Stud, 1st
2002: Legends of Poker 2002 Event # Omaha Hi/Lo, 1st
2002: Legends of Poker 2002 Event # Omaha Hi/Lo split, 2nd
2002: Legends of Poker 2002 Event # No Limit Holdem, 1st
2002: Hall of Fame Poker Classic, Limit Holdem, 1st
2002: Four Queens Poker Classic, Limit Holdem, 2nd
2002: World Series of Poker, Limit Hold 'em Shootout, 6th
2003: World Series of Poker, S.H.O.E, 1st
2004: Orleans Open, No-Limit Hold'em Championship, 6th
2004: Championship Poker at the Plaza, No-Limit Hold'em, 1st
2004: Party Poker Million III, Limit Hold'em Championship Final Day, 2nd
2004: Caribbean Adventure, No-Limit Hold'em, 3rd
2004: Five Diamond World Poker Classic, 1st
WSOP 2004
Event #2, $2,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em, 43rd, $4,440
Event #7, $1,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em w/ Rebuys, 3rd, $100,940
Event #11, $2,500 Limit Hold 'Em, 7th, $21,800
Event #15, $2,000 Limit Hold 'Em, 1st, $169,100
Event #18, $1,500 No-Limit Hold 'Em, 9th, $5,000
Event #31, $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha w/ Rebuys, 8th, $45,000
Most respected poker players:
Jennifer Harman-for making it to the top of a 'man's' world
Allen Cunningham-for his ability and table demeanor
Ted Forrest-simply the best
Mickey Coleman-for playing his best game 365 days a year even though the money is insignificant
Harry and Jerri Thomas-for having a wonderful family with poker being an important part of their lifestyle at the same time
If you could change anything in the world, what would it be?
The divorce rate. If there wasn't such a high number of single parent households, this would be a better place. It's tough for any child to grow up without a father and a mother fulltime. People should take marriage more seriously, you don't just do it then 'change your mind'.
If you could change anything in the poker world, what would it be?
Basically just the negative image. For society to see that it can be a healthy profession although it's not traditional. Get rid of all the bad apples, the cheats, the badmouths, the hot tempered, etc. If that happens, I can see poker being accepted more readily my mainstream society in the near future. |
Date of Birth: 7/26/74