The Art of Poker

Born in Toronto, of Romanian parents, Daniel Negreanu was the consummate child born of immigrant parents striving for a better life. When he was old enough to drive, Daniel, at age 16, discovered the backrooms and alleys of pool halls, and the game in the back room. Daniel got good fast and dropped out of high school to play poker full time. Quite gambles for a kid a credit shy of the diploma.

Daniel built a pile of money to support his poker playing with, naturally, poker earnings in Toronto. There he met a fellow player, Evelyn Ng. They dated for short period, married and the gambling duo headed for the high stakes; Vegas, baby! Daniel had overestimated his poker playing, however and the couple lost everything. They returned to Toronto in the hopes of rebuilding their lives, less whimsical this time, and a little defeated. Negreanu honed his game, sadly upon the death of his father. At 22, Daniel got serious about his hand. He accumulated enough money to bankroll another venture to Vegas, and the Negreanu headed for the Vegas strip once again, with even more determination.

At 23 years old, Daniel earned the title “best all-around player at Foxwoods’s World Poker Open.” The game was ON. The year 1998 brought him even more accomplishments. Daniel secured his first ever World Series of Poker bracelet and took home an impressive $169 grand. Negreanu was the youngest WSOP bracelet holder in history. It was then Daniel became known as “Kid Poker.” Kid Poker went on to earn three WSOP events. With the knack to play games that are a mix of seven-card stud, Omaha eight-or-better, hold’em, and seven-card stud eight-or-better, Daniel just got better. He accumulated another couple titles, Five Diamond World Poker Classic, and World Poker Tour’s Borgata Poker Open and then earned the title Cardplayer’s Player of the Year as well as the W.S.O.P. Toyota Player of the Year. Kid Poker garnished Over 4.4 million in earnings.

And play the kid did. He slowed down a bit in ’05 but took the next year by storm. Daniel got flush by obtaining more winning titles, W.S.O.P. Circuit Championship event in Tunica for $755,000, placing fifth at the National Heads Up Poker Championship, and eventually taking second at the Tournament of Champions, 2005 WPT Player of the Year. He was a star on Late Night Poker, High Stakes Poker, Poker After Dark, and the Poker Superstars Invitational tournament too. What does Kid Poker claim is the secret to his success? “Don’t do anything stupid,” he says.

So what was left for Negreanu to conquer, How about on line and video poker? Daniel established Full Contact Poker, an online card room. He became a part of Team Poker Stars and Daniel became the poker game, Kid Poker became main character, Stacked with Daniel Negreanu.

Daniel is now divorced, twice, is a Vegas Vegan and is still involved with poker games. Daniel Negreanu’s worth was estimated at over nine million dollars in 2009. A lump sum of money that signifies that he is no kid when it boils down to playing cards smartly.