On Saturday, Dec 18th Daniel Negreanu won the main WPT event of the Five Diamond Poker Classic at the Bellagio, becoming World Player of the Year and All Time WPT Money winner in one fell swoop. In a career that’s had more than its share of high points this one has to go right to the top of the mountain. I caught up with him just before these events took place, this is how it went.

David Lloyd: Hi Daniel, where are you?

Daniel Negreanu: Right now I'm on the couch at my house in Las Vegas catching up on like 400 or so e-mails I've been neglecting.
 
DL: I’m buying, what’s yours?

DN: Oh, I'll have a Belvedere and cranberry on the rocks.

DL: Having previously won best all round player at the LA poker classic, you pull off the same feat at this years WSOP, you should start giving lessons ;-) Would you swap all that to win the big one?

DN: No chance. I actually won the Best All Around in Foxwoods back in 97'.  Those awards mean more to me than just one tournament.

DL: For me, the Feng Shui was all wrong in the Horseshoe ;-) Quite clearly, it worked for you…Will you miss the place or are you looking forward to playing at the Rio instead?

DN: Honestly?  I never really liked playing there.  It's closer to my house but I'm looking forward to the longer drive to the Rio.

DL: Prediction time, how many runners for this years’ main event?

DN: 5378

DL: I don’t think you’re far off the mark there. It’ll take five days just to get day 1 out of the way (lol).

Watching you play, I’d say your temperament is a huge asset. You seem very relaxed at the table…Have you ever blown a fuse or have you always been as chilled out as you seem?

DN: I’m pretty chill, easy going overall.  I may have blue a fuse when I was a kid but I honestly don't ever remember doing that.

DL: Belated congratulations on your million dollar WPT win in September. The railbirds must be coming at you with tracker dogs. Have you ever thought of having ‘NO!’ tattooed to the palm of your hand?

DN: I'm pretty good at dealing with the railbirds these days.  It's gotten to the point where they are afraid to ask me.  "Go get a job man!  If you are still broke after all these years you just don't get it dude.  You suck!"  That'll usually scare em' off for a while.

DL: (lol) So you go for the subtle approach then! On a slightly different subject, are you still ‘playing discards’ or did it all come to an ugly and brutal conclusion? ;-)

DN: If I play small limit poker sometimes for kicks, to make it more challenging I'll play someone's discards.  For example, I sit behind a player in the game and only get to play the garbage he wouldn't play.  It's kind of sick and twisted but I love it and have actually made money doing it!

DL: You’re trapped in an elevator with a poker masochist; He asks you how you’re doing. Do you oblige him with a bad beat story?

DN: Never.  I don't like hearing them so I don't tell them.

DL: You’ve played in Europe quite a few times now. Apart from our pot-limit obsessions, what other big differences do you notice and have you enjoyed coming over?

DN: I hate the smoke. Seems like everyone in Europe smokes no matter which country.  The food is better, I hate fast food and American food overall just doesn't do it for me.  My mother is Romanian so I grew up with good eats.

DL: Is your mother still hoping you’ll get a “real” job or has she given up on that one?

DN: At this point I think she's finally realized that I already do have a "real" job.

DL: Taking into account that the Bellagio is your local card room, if you could pick up any other card room in the world and plonk it back down within a ten minute stroll from your home, which one would it be?

DN: The Wynn Resorts.  It will be open on April 28th and everyone is excited to see what it will be like.  Everything Steve Wynn does is top notch.

DL: Do you play online much?

DN: Not so much anymore.  I fully endorse www.pokermountain.com but I don't really play online these days.  Who has the time? If I did play anywhere it would be www.pokermountain.com. Online is kinda fun but I can only play for a few hours before my eyes get tired.

DL: Back in the real world, which games do you normally play in?

DN: When I play live it's usually a mixed game: Hold'em, Stud, Omaha HL, Stud H/L, and 2-7 Triple Draw.  Limits ranging from 1000-2000 to 2000-4000.

DL: Ok Daniel, World Series 2005 – Main Event – Day 1. You’ve just been drawn at a quiet table featuring Phil Hellmuth, Mike Matusow, Sam Grizzle and Tony G. Which would you prefer, I-Pod or gumshield?

DN: I-POD.  Although if Sam's doing the talking, I have to listen.  He is just too funny man.

DL: Cash game, Dealers Choice, your button, what are we playing?

DN: 2-7 Triple Draw Lowball.

DL: Imagine you found yourself on a slow boat to China, hosting the liveliest poker games known to man. Who would you want with you for company and why?

DN: Phil Hellmuth because he goes on tilt all the time and its fun to laugh at him. Other than that, John Juanda, Phil Ivey, and Erick Lindgren because they would all help in needling Phil. Those three are masters.

DL: Onboard, they’ve organised a charity karaoke night, you have to sing or forfeit $10,000. What’s your big number?

DN: ‘To All The Girls I Loved Before’. Only because I can do both Willie Nelson and Julio Iglesias' parts.

DL: While we’re talking about ‘music’, what was the last album you bought?

DN: That I bought?  I think Eminem's latest.

DL: Your desert island favourites – Tell me three songs you’d have to take with you?

DN:

"No Woman No Cry"
"Redemption Songs"
"Pimper's Paradise"

All Bob Marley Songs, classics that never get old.

DL: ‘How long shall they kill our Prophets while we stand aside and look’. That’s worthy of any top three…….and, all time favourite movies, five please?

DN:

American History X
Good Will Hunting
Matrix Series
Scarface
Ferris Beuller's Day Off

DL: I see your first two feature Edward Norton and Matt Damon respectively. Did you meet them when they were at the WSOP promoting ‘Rounders’?

DN: I've seen Matt around but we've never formally met. Brian Koppelman is friends with Edward Norton and mentioned that we should have dinner if I'm ever in NY.  That's something I think I would enjoy doing, both Matt and Ed are fantastic actors in my opinion.

DL: And a good film you’ve seen recently?

DN: ‘SuperSize Me’  It was a documentary on fast food and why America is the fattest nation in the world.  If you see it, you will officially be cured of fast food forever!

DL: Your favourite line / lines of dialogue (any movie or TV)?

DN: The whole Al Pacino monologue near the end of Devil's Advocate.  He was scary good in that role, a little too scary actually.

DL: A couple of unmissable TV shows?

DN: I'm a reality TV freak.  MTV's Real World, Road Rules, Real World/Road Rules Challenge, Surreal Life, Survivor.  As for normal TV it's all HBO for me mostly, Sopranos, Curb Your Enthusiasm... oh and 60 Minutes so I can stay up to date on how screwed up the world is.

DL: The trouble with watching reality TV shows is that some of your friends start giving you sideways glances and reassessing the relationship. At first, one show will do, you say to yourself, “I can handle it” but pretty soon it’s not enough, you start watching re-runs or live feeds from the jungle at four in the morning and kid yourself it’s ok because “I’m playing online anyway…I’ll play for another hour, just one more hour”…

(five minutes and a whiff of smelling salts later): Err…yeah, the Sopranos, the best show on TV. Have you ever found yourself in something baring any resemblance to one of Tony Soprano’s home games?

DN: Yeah back in my Toronto days playing in private games and underground clubs.  I played in an italian club with guys named "Scoop" short for Scoupini, "Shampoo" and "Papa Nick".  All were characters for sure.

DL: Which sports and teams do you follow?

DN: I was born in Toronto, so:

Toronto Maple Leafs: Hockey
Toronto Raptors: Basketball
Toronto Blue Jays: Baseball (very rarely though, kinda sick of baseball)
Football: Buffalo Bills
Golf: Tiger Woods
Tennis: Andre Agassi and Jennifer Capriati

DL: What would you say was the most unusual bet you ever made?

DN: I bet Huck Seed on a pool match where he bet on me and I bet on him.  I won the game and lost money.  He wanted me to lay him 5-1 odds on a game of pool.  I thought that was too much and so he bet on me and I bet on him.  Of course we both had to try to win.  So I won the game and went, "Yes!... oh now, here is your thousand."  Pretty silly really.

DL: Sounds like fun. I played with Huck while he was in London a few years back. How’s his form these days?

DN: Tough to say really. Nowhere near what it once was, but he has his good days and his bad days.  He needs to get things right in his social life in order to be back on top.  When he is at his best, there are none better.

DL: What was the worst bet you ever made?

DN: See previous, lol.

DL: Who makes you laugh out-loud?

DN: Other than Sam Grizzle, I would go with Chris Rock and Jamie Foxx... and the kids from the Real World/Road Rules challenges.  That is true comedy at its best sometimes.
 
DL: The Jacksons have just moved in next door. Unexpectedly, you have to be in Atlantic City for the weekend. Who would you trust to feed your cat…La Toya, Michael or Janet?

DN: Janet.  Other than the Boob flashing fiasco at the Super Bowl she seems like the most normal of the three.

DL: Pre-Army Elvis, the black leather comeback or King of Las Vegas?

DN: Pre-Army Elvis for sure.  The dude was slick back then.

DL: What would you recommend for a great night out in Vegas?

DN: A good dinner at one of the many restaurants, maybe a visit to the Comedy Stop at the Trop, and the Ghost Bar at the Palms.

DL: In one sentence, or just three words, what’s the best advice you could give to someone just starting out in poker?

DN: Patience, Discipline, Focus.
 
DL: Finally, there is, as everyone knows, a poker Santa…What will you be asking for?

DN: Ummm.... thing is I usually buy all of those things for myself, but here goes: Golden Tee Golf Arcade Game for the house.

DL: Thanks Daniel, it’s been a pleasure talking, good luck with everything you do in 2005!

Note: For a good read, I strongly recommend you check out Daniel’s regular articles in ‘Card Player’ magazine or even better, go directly Daniel’s site at www.fullcontactpoker.com