Is Daniel As Good Of A Player As He Was 2 Years Ago?

[pokerlegend1 0]

Daniel is not the same player he was 2 years ago. He just does not have that focus or tenacity that he used to show. I know a lot of it has to so with the amount of money he has made not from poker but from all the other aspects of the poker world. But honestly why even play in events when all you want to do is lose? 77 all in after a re raise. I mean the Daniel of old would have mucked that in a second instead he has either lost focus or just doesn't care. Still a great talent but the lack of focus especially in front of the lime lite of the WSOP really has made him look bad int he first few events. Come on Daniel when are you going to begin playing?

[mtdesmoines 3]

Daniel is not the same player he was 2 years ago. He just does not have that focus or tenacity that he used to show. I know a lot of it has to so with the amount of money he has made not from poker but from all the other aspects of the poker world. But honestly why even play in events when all you want to do is lose? 77 all in after a re raise. I mean the Daniel of old would have mucked that in a second instead he has either lost focus or just doesn't care. Still a great talent but the lack of focus especially in front of the lime lite of the WSOP really has made him look bad int he first few events. Come on Daniel when are you going to begin playing?

Maybe his association with FCP pays pretty well. Maybe he's always played this way, and hit hands and seemed like a genius. Maybe he's up $3 million this year already, and we shouldn't make judgements on his skills with a hand of 77.

[Fidler0 0]

Daniel is not the same player he was 2 years ago. He just does not have that focus or tenacity that he used to show. I know a lot of it has to so with the amount of money he has made not from poker but from all the other aspects of the poker world. But honestly why even play in events when all you want to do is lose? 77 all in after a re raise. I mean the Daniel of old would have mucked that in a second instead he has either lost focus or just doesn't care. Still a great talent but the lack of focus especially in front of the lime lite of the WSOP really has made him look bad int he first few events. Come on Daniel when are you going to begin playing?

The push with 7-7 looks strange...but let's consider...1) Barry could be re-raising with anything here. Daniel knows how Barry plays, it easily could've been AK, AQ, AJ suited.2) Not as an excuse, it's just the way things are...but a $1,500 event for Daniel is probably the equivalent of any of us playing a tournament for $1, not always easy to get your heart in to it. Also, the way these structures are set up, it's sortof necessary to make a push early.3) Daniel has won over $300,000 in the last 4 days..yes, what a horrible player he has become! (sw)OP...how much have you made at poker in that same period?

[mx957 0]

The push with 7-7 looks strange...but let's consider...1) Barry could be re-raising with anything here. Daniel knows how Barry plays, it easily could've been AK, AQ, AJ suited.2) Not as an excuse, it's just the way things are...but a $1,500 event for Daniel is probably the equivalent of any of us playing a tournament for $1, not always easy to get your heart in to it. Also, the way these structures are set up, it's sortof necessary to make a push early.3) Daniel has won over $300,000 in the last 4 days..yes, what a horrible player he has become! (sw)OP...how much have you made at poker in that same period?

Well said!

[rogerwilco 0]

I don't think it is even possible to make such a judgement considering how high variance is in those big MTTs.But specifically on this 77 all in-hand: Most (if not all) pros take huge risks early on, put all their chips into the pot not just in coinflips but even when they know they are an underdog or that a situation is not +ev - simply because having a big stack is such an enormous advantage later on. And also because they have better things to do with their time (even playing golf for relaxation) than grinding for 10+ hours and leaving with a couple thousand dollars.Buying into a tournament for 1.5K is a big deal for most people (it certainly would be for me) but it is nothing for someone like Daniel Negreanu and I understand he doesn't care about such a tournament if he doesn't have a reasonable chance to at least make the final table - and you probably need a big stack right from the beginning for that.

[pokerlegend1 0]

Maybe his association with FCP pays pretty well. Maybe he's always played this way, and hit hands and seemed like a genius. Maybe he's up $3 million this year already, and we shouldn't make judgements on his skills with a hand of 77.

\I have done pretty well to be honest. Not judging how much he has made from other things. From what I hear around his numbers are far exxagerated fromt he big game. Daniel is a great talent but........1) He caught an amazing amount of lucky draws for about a 15 month period.2) why sign up for atournament in which you are not going to try in.3) He own 300,000 by coming in second place int hae TOC. He goes all in after two people in front of him go allin. He decides to go allin with AQ against 2 opponents adn draws an ACE. GOOD or LUCkY. I say lucky.4) OUt Played by Mike Sexton with a big chip lead.5) Not focused and lack of drive surely startign to show with bad plays and more than that bad decisions.

[mx957 0]

Pokerlegend1,You are entitled to your opinion. I won't deny you that. But your statement shows me your lack of knowledge in these Hugh Field MTT's. Listen to other pro's, listen to Daniel and they'll all tell you, they are out to accumulate chips early or go home. It's that simple. Take some calculated risks early on to gather chips, if it works you have a decent chip stack to attack the final table with, if it doesn't work then you bust out early.Does this mean he plays random and/or reckless. No, he take his shots when he feels he is in "DECENT" shape. I still say that DN can read the average poker player better than most and he'll be just fine in this years WSOP. Heck, this years WSOP is a complete free roll for him. He won 325K on a free roll...even if Daniel goes NUTSO in the rebuy tourney's he'll still leave the 2006 WSOP with more money than he came with.

[Kangaroo 0]

Daniel is one of the best players out there, if you disagree you're at the wrong forum.

[JadeTiger 0]

Seems pretty naive to say that daniel is not as good of a player as he was two years ago based on one hand. I mean to be honest. Most of us would need 2 weeks to dive back into a big event after coming in second at the TOC and daniel did it in 3 days, and will be going none stop for the next month. You guys have to remember that DN is a pro. Just like the NBA (Spurs fan here) you dont worry as much about the early season games. (Are they important? Of course but you get the point) Its your record after the all-star break that matters, and of course how you do in the playoffs. But to chatise DN for busting with 77 early in the WSOP just seems asanine. The guy is in it for the long haul and were this the main event, he would have gotten away from the hand but it isnt the main, its the freakin $1500 pot-limit hold'em event. And the guy is planning on playing most of the events. For most of us we are only playing in 1-2 events and maybe at a max 3-4 events depending on how well we do. DN will play in the events regardless of how well he does because he's a pro. Thats what he does. Thats what he waits all year for. all the sessions all the tourneys all the...golfing? (J/k) Just to make it to this month and a half of poker and show the world who he really is. To be honest, I think DN has gotten better as a player. He has matured, and has handled his bad run from the last year with more class and poise of anyone I know. Think about it... the guy is the POY in 2004 and then gets run over in 2005. And comes back and starts off 2006 with a big win and now the TOC 2nd place. For as disappointed as he was to come in 2nd to M.Sexton, its still a nice finish especially going into the WSOP. So for all you haters out there, we will see where you will be hating in August when DN has another bracelet. For as much as this guy lets us into his life you should be grateful to be able to follow a pro so closely. How many other players let us follow this closely? I cant name any.

[hblask 1]

People who judge the pros, out of context, for the way they play a particular hand or several hands, are the main reason that pros can make a living playing poker. I'm sure Daniel and his pals love posts like the OP, because it lets them know the money train is not slowing down.

[Mercury69 3]

Questioning Daniel's poker ability makes Baby Jesus cry.

[JacksNQueens 0]

I suspect he is as good if not better. Although its true the additional money from non gaming takes some of the pressure off it also allows a player to be more relaxed and less concerned about the overall conclusion of the tournament and more focused on the moment. Daniel seems like a very Zen kind of guy in many respects so I think his game has probably improved.

[Dr_Shakes 0]

Is he is as good as he was 2 yrs ago?No.He is better.

[fckthis 0]

I think Daniel is just as good. Just because he had a massive 2004, doesnt meean he's going to have that many wins in one year again. I dont think it will be ever duplicated, by anyone. So to say that he wasnt the same player is a ridiculous statement. He's the same player, maybe not as "lucky", but w.e he has a win and probably will take a bracelet again this year in something else.

[doudave 0]

C'mon guys, everyone knows Daniel is a great player, but he WAS a better player two years ago. I have felt this way for a while now, again I still think he is a great player but he has lost his hunger. 2 years ago he was really focused and hungry to show his talents and now he is as big a name as there is in poker so I think he has lost some of his focus. I don't blame him though its not like he grew up a rich man, he became a rich man through hard work and he is enjoying his riches, I know I would. I also think that in a couple of years this new found fame will get a little old for him and thats when he will refocus all his attention to his number one passion, which is poker.

[JadeTiger 0]

C'mon guys, everyone knows Daniel is a great player, but he WAS a better player two years ago. I have felt this way for a while now, again I still think he is a great player but he has lost his hunger. 2 years ago he was really focused and hungry to show his talents and now he is as big a name as there is in poker so I think he has lost some of his focus. I don't blame him though its not like he grew up a rich man, he became a rich man through hard work and he is enjoying his riches, I know I would. I also think that in a couple of years this new found fame will get a little old for him and thats when he will refocus all his attention to his number one passion, which is poker.

That doesnt make any sense. The guy hasnt lost his hunger. He has changed as a player. just because he isnt treating every hand like his last doesnt mean he isnt hungry. Just because he isnt playing 10 hours a day of online poker and entering every event there is doesnt mean he isnt hungry. The guy has accomplished more than most on the circuit and still finds time to play in the big game, run his own poker business, have a wife, and entertain FCPers, be a mentor to Fiddler, and still try and enjoy his self earned riches. The guy is a different guy. He has taken on much more from two years ago. That doesnt mean he isnt hungry or as good a poker player. It means with all this on his plate he still found a way to win big early this year and come in 2nd at the TOC, and he is looking to make a good run this year at the WSOP. The guy is a machine. Give him a break. Most of us would break under that kind of pressure and drop something. The guy has a million balls in the air and finds a way to not drop any of them. Thats more impressive to me than his 2004 run.

[blacktie31 0]

I think he is better now than ever.The play with the 7's is understandable in that they started with only 1500 in chips and with a large field you need to be looking for coinflips early on to even have a chance as the blinds go up.Also since when is there shame in losing to Mike Sexton?He's been a pro for like 20 years, has a bracelet and is in the top 10 or 20 in total cashes in the series.He seems to be spending more time now in other business ventures instead of playing poker, but is still one of the best players in the world.

[sirch1 0]

i love how everyone keeps refering to how daniel took second for 300 K in the tournament of champions, this was a 27 person tournament people. This isnt a huge accomplishment no matter what big names are in the field

[JadeTiger 0]

i love how everyone keeps refering to how daniel took second for 300 K in the tournament of champions, this was a 27 person tournament people. This isnt a huge accomplishment no matter what big names are in the field

Yes it is a big accomplishment. How many of us sit with the biggest names in poker and make the plays DN did only to get cold-decked HU. He should have won, proving how good he is.

[rogerwilco 0]

i love how everyone keeps refering to how daniel took second for 300 K in the tournament of champions, this was a 27 person tournament people. This isnt a huge accomplishment no matter what big names are in the field

Well, he got into that tournament because of his victory in the Tunica Circit Event, so I guess you can add the 300K to the 750K he won there.Winning a million dollars in tournaments is quite an accomplishment in itself.

[sirch1 0]

Yes it is a big accomplishment. How many of us sit with the biggest names in poker and make the plays DN did only to get cold-decked HU. He should have won, proving how good he is.

i dont doubt his talent i am just saying a three table tourney is no accomplishment, you put anyone in that tourney and sooner or later they finish that high

[AlTrade 0]

Daniel is not the same player he was 2 years ago. He just does not have that focus or tenacity that he used to show. I know a lot of it has to so with the amount of money he has made not from poker but from all the other aspects of the poker world. But honestly why even play in events when all you want to do is lose? 77 all in after a re raise. I mean the Daniel of old would have mucked that in a second instead he has either lost focus or just doesn't care. Still a great talent but the lack of focus especially in front of the lime lite of the WSOP really has made him look bad int he first few events. Come on Daniel when are you going to begin playing?

This is a joke right?You have to realize that other players are getting better. Poker has become so popular and people play all the time, they are improving in their poker skills.Daniel had a huge edge over other players a few years ago, he still has a big edge over almost all players. I'm sure we have not seen the last of Daniel's successes.

[chester97 0]

Daniel is not the same player he was 2 years ago. He just does not have that focus or tenacity that he used to show. I know a lot of it has to so with the amount of money he has made not from poker but from all the other aspects of the poker world. But honestly why even play in events when all you want to do is lose? 77 all in after a re raise. I mean the Daniel of old would have mucked that in a second instead he has either lost focus or just doesn't care. Still a great talent but the lack of focus especially in front of the lime lite of the WSOP really has made him look bad int he first few events. Come on Daniel when are you going to begin playing?

You are just saying this so DN will mention something in his video blog that relates to you, aren't you? One of those "the guys on the forums are saying this....." and then you can show it to your friends and tell them it was because of you. good luck with that.

[rogerwilco 0]

You are just saying this so DN will mention something in his video blog that relates to you, aren't you? One of those "the guys on the forums are saying this....." and then you can show it to your friends and tell them it was because of you. good luck with that.

DN already said in his video blog, that someone will say he's a donk because of the 77-all in, so I don't think he'll repeat himself.

[bengy3 0]

I'm amazed nobody has said, "I have no idea." Because, well, we have no idea.