Daniel Negreanu Profile

Like many a young poker pro who currently lives the life in Las Vegas, Daniel started off playing poker young, moved to Sin City young, started winning young, and now lives the enviable life of the poker celebrity.  He sleeps in, plays golf, hangs out with friends, and plays poker better than just about anyone else in the world. While there are plenty of players at his level or even, arguably, better, Daniel’s total package persona just makes it seem like he’s unbeatable.

Daniel was born in Toronto, Canada, in 1974 and started playing poker at 15. Eight years later he was the youngest world championship event winner in history, snagging a bracelet at the 1998 World Series of Poker Pot Limit Texas Hold’em event (which remains his favorite game of poker to this day). From this moment forward the poker world would come to know “Kid Poker” (his first poker nickname) as the smiling young fella who took everyone’s chips.

It might be his Canadian heritage and origins, of which he is proud, that give him such an open mind, or perhaps it is years of playing with men and women of every race and background; either way, Daniel is known for his open, friendly manner with everyone at the table. When he is losing he smiles and makes conversation (even when his frustration is evident) and when he is winning he does the same. He lists among his poker inspirations Allen Cunningham for his ability and behavior at the table, and Jennifer Harman for her success in what is typically considered a ‘man’s world.’

There are differences between poker professionals, poker celebrities and poker legends; the pros make a living by grinding out games and being very good at what they do, the celebrities have some extra spice they bring to the equation, such as super-model looks, a gift for communicating with the fans or a special flair, and the legends are the ones who take poker beyond being a game into a realm of mastery that is astounding. Daniel Negreanu, whose real name is now far more well known than his nickname, is all three. One of the special breed of young pros who seem hell-bent on bringing the best parts of their culture to poker, Daniel is a blogger, a journalist, a mentor to stars like Spiderman’s Tobey Maguire, and the leading name on one of the most-anticipated poker video games of all time, Stacked.

Being named the 2004 Player of the Year for Card Player Magazine and ESPN did much to justify the attention Daniel seems to draw naturally to himself. His record of winning more tournaments than anyone in history (more than 36) have a lot to do with it, as well. Ranking in as one of the top two money winners doesn’t hurt, either.  His other accomplishments include having writing more than 100 articles for Card Player magazine since 2001, penning a contribution to the heavily anticipated Doyle Brunson sequel, Super System 2, and running his popular website, http://www.fullcontactpoker.com.

On of the more exciting prospects that Daniel is involved with is the video game Stacked; which, in truth, has already evolved beyond being “just” a video game about poker and into a movement. Poker video games are nothing new, and even this generation of games, where a player can create a virtual, customizable character to play with, keeping track of standings, rising through the ranks and competing against “real” poker pros like Negreanu, is not the newest idea off the shelf. But Stacked comes along with it the ability to play online against other video gamers, blending the feeling and excitement of watching/playing at big events like the World Series of Poker with the immediacy and fun of playing poker against real live opponents across the world on the Internet. While other new poker video games offer this as well, none have the backing and push of media giant MTV, which will be hosting special tournaments for Stacked players, including some where Negranu and friends will be in attendance. This is a prime example of how Daniel takes an element of poker and enhances it, carrying it to the next level of style, sophistication and fun.

His visions of poker future include tightening up on the loudmouths, the cheats and the other bad apple players that act as sinkers on the game’s reputation, keeping it from rising to the level of general acceptance Daniel believes it deserves.  He won’t pretend that the poker lifestyle is a traditional one, but will stand by his convictions that it can be healthy and readily accepted by mainstream society.  If that happens than his story of dropping out of high school to become a rounder, hunting up illegal games around Toronto, would ether not raise as many eyebrows or perhaps not even happen, if the game were made more available.

Despite his success he still harbored many of the same dreams and aspirations of most other people; finding the right person, settling down, raising a family. On August 19, 2005, he took the next big step in that direction when he married Lori Lin Weber.

Newly married, still young, a world champion who sometimes seems to be just warming up, Daniel Negreanu seems to be on top of the world. Watching him play poker the way he does makes one think he really deserves to be there.