Daniel Negreanu Down $226K in World Series of Poker So Far

Posted on: July 2, 2013, 07:44h.

Last updated on: July 2, 2013, 07:44h.

Canadian poker pro Daniel Negreanu – who’s won five World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets and more than $18 million in tournament cashes throughout his illustrious poker career – is not having a great year so far at WSOP. At least, not according to his own tournament tracking app, which shows him down $226,000 after barreling through 31 events already at this year’s gathering. The figure was at “just” $176K, until he busted the $50,000 buy-in Poker Players Championship in 102nd place this week. And that’s despite five cashes, which would certainly be impressive for most players.

Can’t Win for Losing

The downswing is because, despite the five cashes (which have garnered him $45,088 so far), he’s poured $271,111 into the 31 events (with the priciest being the One Drop High Rollers No Limit Hold’em tournament that benefits charity and that paid winner Tony Gregg a healthy $4,830,619 for first. Last year’s $18 million + winner, Antonio Esfandiari, only took fourth this year, and with a buy-in that was almost 1/10th of last year’s $1 million, he made off with a “paltry” $1,433,438 for this year’s fourth place finish. Yes, the rich get richer).

Before you lose any sleep over Negreanu’s downward trend, however, consider this: he’s doing pretty well over all in tournaments so far this year. Back in April, he took down WSOP Australia for $1,087,160, and also made his way to two non-WSOP final tables that have earned him another total of $553,000. So he can probably afford bus fare home, anyway.

Top-Ranked Player

Originally from Toronto, Negreanu is recognized as one of the top players in the game today, along with names like Phil Ivey, Phil Hellmuth and Mike “The Mouth” Matusow. With 189 lifetime tournament cashes and 35 first place finishes, according to his Poker Pages ranking, 38-year-old Negreanu is ranked as the sixth most successful tournament player in the world right now.

And, who knows? Perhaps he can turn it all around at the Main Event this year, where a first place finish will most likely be in the $6-8 million range.