For many of those interested in poker, the world over, Daniel “Kid Poker” Negreanu is the world’s best poker player. And if he isn’t, then he’s probably the most popular. Ever since that fateful day almost ten years ago, when he won his first bracelet at his first ever WSOP, Negreanu has charmed the poker public with his unique playing style. A style that has made Toronto based Negreanu a megastar, not just at the tables, but also among the fans that follow the tournaments.
After his unexpected victory in 1998, he has earned another couple of bracelets – the $2,000 S.H.O.E. event, in 2003, and the $2,000 Limit Hold’em one, the following year. Furthermore, Daniel won two WPT (World Poker Tour) tournaments, in 2004; a year that has been “Kid Poker’s” most successful to date, of which his titles: Champion Player of the Year, ESPN Player of the Year and Card Magazine Player of the Year, are ample proof.
Two years previously, in 2002, Daniel experienced another very successful year. In August, he won three straight competitions in the Los Angeles Legends of Poker tournament. And when, two weeks later, he went to Las Vegas and took home the Hall of Fame Poker Classic among tough competition, he consolidated his poker life’s best month. The result was unlikely to say the least, and speaks volumes of the Canadian’s quality.
Daniel Negreanu has Romanian origins
Daniel Negreanu was raised in hockey-mad Toronto, Canada. But, as his surname suggests, Daniel has East European origins. His parents left Romania at the end of the 1960s, when the country was suffering from significant misery and poverty after Dictator Nicolae Ceausescu’s rise to power, two years earlier. In Canada, the family improved their situation and his father Constantin’s successful investments in the real estate business meant Daniel was able to grow up comfortably in Toronto.
Despite the fact that Daniel found school easy, he was not the sort who studied particularly hard. Instead, it was his great interest in games of different kinds that Daniel spent most of his time on. In the beginning, snooker was his hobby of choice, but this was later replaced by poker.
After some time playing at different charity casinos, which constituted the only legal possibility of playing poker in Canada, he, like many other poker players, was unable to withstand the draw of Vegas. So it was not exactly unexpected when Daniel Negreanu moved to the surrealist city in the middle of the Mojave desert, in 1995. A decision he would not regret.
The Vegas dream
When Daniel moved to Vegas as a 21 year old, he was close to graduating, but his desire to gamble on achieving his dream to become a professional poker player was enough to make him drop out. Some would consider it quite a risky choice, but for Daniel it turned out to be quite the right one. Ironically enough, “Kid Poker” started his own school during the autumn – okay, it is a poker school on the Full Contact Poker site, but still!
Despite leaving school, there is no doubt that Daniel Negreanu has graduated. In later years, he has also begun to use his abilities to express himself in the written word. This has resulted in, among others, the book: Hold’em Wisdom for All Players. Many of you surely know that he is also a popular columnist for CardPlayer magazine. In addition, he blogs on Full Contact Poker and let’s not forget the chapter in Doyle Brunson’s Super System 2.
Daniel Negreanu – PokerStars biggest profile
Daniel is also part of PokerStars’ stall of known players, where he is the biggest star. Together with players like Chris Moneymaker, Greg “Fossilman” Raymer and Joe Hachem, he has been a big draw for the site, significantly helping it to become more popular, with it currently being one of the biggest in the industry.
Daniel Negreanu is one of the true megastars in the poker world. With his characteristic behaviour at the poker table, it is easy to understand why he has so many fans the world over who follow him. His open personality and desire to drive poker onwards mean Daniel Negreanu will probably continue to be one of the brightest stars in the poker heavens. A fact that most people would probably agree on.