When it comes to the World Series of Poker (WSOP), six-time bracelet winner Daniel Negreanu is typically found in bigger buy-in events. He’s among poker’s elite often competing for $25K Fantasy and Player of the Year points, and buy-ins in excess of $10,000 give him the best chance at both, not to mention his first bracelet since 2013.
For instance, he finished 22nd in Event #2: $25,000 High Roller Six-Handed NLH for $50,000, though he failed to bag Day 1 of Event #23: $50,000 High Roller (8-Handed) after firing two bullets.
However, on Wednesday after busting early on Day 2 of Event #16: $25,000 High Roller, “Kid Poker” opted to become a man of the people by hopping into Day 1a of Event #18: $300 Gladiators of Poker, which boasted a $3 million guarantee.
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Are You Not Entertained?
Needless to say, recreational players in the field were thrilled to see one of poker’s top stars in the lowest buy-in tournament of the 2023 WSOP. That was evidenced by the hundreds of photos he’d take while in the Paris Ballroom.
Despite having to wait in long lines, Negreanu busted two bullets in short order and opted to fire a third, which is when he began to catch fire. It started just before the dinner break when Negreanu more than doubled his stack of 36,000 with A♠J♠ against two players, one who was short stacked and another bigger stack who held the 6♠6♥. The board ran out 2♥A♣9♦J♦A♥ and Negreanu filled up to
Not long after, a player raised, Negreanu three-bet, and the original raiser jammed. Negreanu called with the A♥K♠ and was up against the K♥K♦. The 3♠3♥9♥ flop gave Negreanu a runner-runner heart draw, but the 4♠ turn dashed those hopes and left him looking for an ace on the river to stay alive. Well, Negreanu doesn’t always run bad as he spiked the A♦ to double his stack of 102,000. By the dinner break he had worked that up to 307,000.
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Post-Dinner Heater
With around 300 players remaining in the field, Negreanu won a big pot with the A♣Q♠ against an opponent’s A♦8♦ after the board ran out [7h4s9h3h10]. Going into the last break of the night, Negreanu sat with 775,000 when the average was 450,000 with roughly 260 players.
The run good didn’t stop there as Negreanu won an 800k pot when his pocket kings coolered queens, and it was only up from there. The flight drew 3,954 entrants, but after 22 levels of play just 129 bagged with Negreanu and his stack of 2.25 million in fourth place.
Along with all the other survivors, Negreanu will return at 10 a.m. PDT on Sunday for Day 2 action. He’s already in the money, which marks his fourth cash of the 2023 WSOP.
“Why not the Gladiator? Why not? Let’s just do this one,” Negreanu said. “…I’m a man of the people.”
Negreanu’s wild ride in the Gladiators of Poker was documented in his daily vlog, which you can watch here:
Executive Editor U.S.
Executive Editor US, PokerNews Podcast co-host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.