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I can still remember the first time I saw Daniel Negreanu playing poker on
television. He hadn't exploded in popularity yet, and his name was only
vaguely familiar to me. He was wearing a Buffalo Sabres hockey jersey, an
oversized baseball cap, and huge headphones. He looked like he was about 13,
and my first impression was that he was some kid who had snuck into the
casino. He never stopped talking the entire time he played, and he never
stopped laughing. He was in the habit of constantly calling out his
opponents' hole cards, and the scary thing is that he was right, time after
time. He was taking down pot after pot. He seemed to be having the time of
his life, and that is one of his most endearing qualities. Daniel Negreanu
has a personality and love of poker that is downright infectious.
Today Daniel Negreanu is probably the most succesful and popular poker
player in the world. And with good reason. His list of achievements is
staggering. He has won three WSOP bracelets, 2 WPT titles and countless
other major tournaments. He was CardPlayer's Player of the Year in 2004, and
took the Best All-Around Player Award at the 2004
WSOP.
However, success alone doesn't guarantee popularity. Just ask John Juanda.
There has to be something more. To that end, Daniel Negreanu is one poker
player who understands what it means to give back. He is a featured
columnist in CardPlayer magazine, putting great effort into his writing. His
columns are often excellent - generous with poker strategy, his thought
processes and key insights into real hands he has played. His website is
well designed and obsessively maintained, and it is the home to his famous
Blog. Negreanu posts a blog with amazing frequency. Most of the time his
blog doesn't even cover poker. You're just as likely to read about his views
on vegetarianism, his dog Mushu or his upcoming marriage to Lori. It all
adds up to a man who many people feel that they know personally, even if
they have never met him.
A word of warning - don't be distracted by Negreanu's friendly nature if you
ever find yourself at a poker table with him. On the felt, he is a predator.
He pounces on weakness like a shark sniffing out blood. He is a highly
aggressive player who will play any two cards at any time. In his own words,
"Folding A-J isn't cool. Playing tight isn't cool." He is a math guy who
knows when to gamble. He will protect his blind like a bear defending their
cub. He is one of the best in the game at reading his opponents' holdings.
All of this adds up to a fearsome package. What more can you say about a man
who lists 10-7 offsuit as his favourite hand?
Like all great players, Daniel Negreanu is constantly trying to get better.
In 2005 he issued his Challenge Match decree, which states that he will play
any player in any game for an amount between $100 000 and $500 000. He has
played several matches in a variety of games with mixed results. I
personally feel that he is doing this as a way to step up to the big game
($4000-$8000 limits) at the Bellagio with Doyle Brunson and Chip Reese and
the gang. Barry Greenstein has agreed to play Daniel in all nine games for
$500 000 apiece, and consequently they have developed a bit of a rivalry.
You can follow all of Daniel's Challenge results in his Blog.
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