Daniel Negreanu (KidPoker)

This player has been making world poker news for twenty years. Sometimes rain, sometimes shine. Sometimes on a stroke of genius, sometimes on a stroke of blood. A figurehead of the poker world, a player of inestimable influence, both adored and controversial, Daniel Negreanu is whether we like it or not, one of the game's greatest legends.

The rise of Kid Poker

It all started in Toronto. Born into an immigrant family from Romania, Daniel seems to have little interest in school. From an early age, he frequented billiard circles, taking an interest in betting and card games. After building up a bankroll, he tried the Vegas adventure, ruined himself in the Strip casinos and returned to Toronto... to build up a new bankroll. The second attempt proved to be the right one.

Negreanu studies the game and trains for days on end to beat the American players. He gradually established himself at the cash game tables and won his first bracelet at the age of 23, becoming the youngest player in history to win the precious sesame. From that day on, he would be known as "Kid Poker".

More of a talkative type, Daniel Negreanu is known for his ability to read opposing tells. His knowledge of the game and growing experience enable him to gain the technical and mental upper hand over his opponents. The Canadian began to rack up a string of victories. In 2004, he kicked things into high gear, with two WPT victories, a third WSOP bracelet, rewarded by over $4 million in winnings and the "Card Player Magazine" title of best player of the year.

The darling of world poker

Success followed success with astonishing regularity, and his notoriety climbed as fast as his winnings. In 2007, he joined Team Pokerstars and gradually established himself as an ambassador for world poker. He contributes to numerous strategy books and poker media, and is a commentator on the Ultimate Poker Challenge show... He also appears on the biggest TV poker shows, and even makes film appearances, notably in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. In recent years, he has multiplied his VLOGs, sharing his routine and lifestyle at the festivals he plays at in Las Vegas or Rozvadov, for partner media or his own networks.

Success and controversy

Always very active at the tables, he accumulates over $43 million in Live winnings, the third-highest total in history, after long occupying first place in the mid-2010s. His big performances logically coincide with big buy-ins. In particular, he won the 2013 WSOPE High Roller at Einghien Les Bains for almost a million dollars, the WSOP Aussie Million that same year, for a slightly higher sum, finished 2nd in the 2019 WSOP High Roller, for 1.7 million, or finished 2nd in the Big One for One Drop, for 8.2 million dollars, the biggest win of his career.

Adulated by many fans, Negreanu is also criticized by part of the public and by some players, who don't appreciate his behavior at the tables or his position as spokesman. His best enemy, Doug Polk, challenged him to a heads-up game of over 25,000 hands at the 2020 event. The Canadian walked away with $1.2 million.