Home » News » 2024 WSOP: Poker Legend Daniel Negreanu Triumphs; “Kid Poker” Breaks 11-Year Bracelet Drought With Epic Event #58: $50K Poker Players Championship Victory! ($1,178,703)
The legendary Daniel Negreanu (cover image), one of poker’s most beloved ambassadors, has done it again! In a jaw-dropping display of skill and perseverance, Negreanu shattered an over decade-long bracelet drought, seizing victory in the prestigious Event #58: $50,000 Poker Players Championship at the 2024 World Series of Poker (WSOP)— one of the series’ most prestigious tournaments.
This isn’t just another win for Negreanu; it’s a monumental achievement. For over a decade, the poker world watched as “Kid Poker” came tantalizingly close to victory, with five runner-up finishes since 2014. But this time, destiny called, and Negreanu answered, outlasting 89 of the world’s finest players to claim a whopping $1,178,703 prize and the coveted title.
DANIEL NEGREANU WINS HIS SEVENTH WSOP GOLD BRACELET ????
10 years, 8 months, and 5 days since he last lifted a WSOP gold bracelet in the air, @RealKidPoker has just won bracelet number 7 in Event 58: $50,000 Poker Players Championship! #wsop2024 pic.twitter.com/Iwn4InFFoJ
— WSOP – World Series of Poker (@WSOP) June 28, 2024
For nearly 15 years, Negreanu has been a standout figure at the WSOP. He burst onto the scene during the poker boom, captivating fans with his charismatic table presence and uncanny ability to read his opponents. His early success included four bracelets and a WSOP Player of the Year Award, earning him the nickname “Kid Poker.”
However, the winning streak came to an abrupt halt. It had been over a decade since Negreanu’s last bracelet victory, dating back to when George W. Bush was in the White House and The Incredible Hulk topped the box office. Despite numerous close calls, including five runner-up finishes since 2014, Negreanu’s elusive seventh bracelet remained out of reach.
Pure emotion as @DreaRenee_N spoke with @RealKidPoker after winning his first @WSOP bracelet since 2013. pic.twitter.com/ZMF1xa7l45
— PokerGO (@PokerGO) June 28, 2024
“A lot of relief really. I have a lot of anxiety about coming heads-up because I’ve had so many seconds. And it was just nice for things to feel like they went my way at this final table,” said Negreanu, his voice brimming with emotion after a tense heads-up battle against Bryce Yockey.
Yockey, who recently secured his second bracelet in Event #8: $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha, took home $768,467 for his second-place finish, marking the biggest single cash of his career, surpassing his previous top prize of $606,654 from Event #8.
The Poker Players Championship, a gruelling test of skill and endurance, has been Negreanu’s favourite tournament since its inception in 2006. Negreanu has participated in this event every year since its debut, and finally, breaking his drought in this very event is a storybook ending for the poker legend.
“There is one event in the world I want to play more than any and I wanted to win more than any, and it’s this one. This is the one,” Negreanu stated. “Obviously, the Main Event is special in a different way. But this one is all the best players in the world, pro-heavy field, playing 100-minute levels, days and days of grind, 12 hours a day. So to come out on top, you can’t fluke that.”
Negreanu, ranked #2 on Canada’s all-time money list and #7 on the all-time money list, now boasts $53,878,579 in total live winnings, of which $23,398,771 he has won at the WSOP.
Despite his long drought, Negreanu’s popularity never waned. His WSOP vlogs attract thousands of daily viewers on YouTube. A large crowd gathered around the rail, chanting “Daniel, Daniel” as he clinched the win. Fans constantly seek him out for photos and autographs at Paris and Horseshoe Las Vegas, and he enthusiastically embraces his role as a poker ambassador.
“I always sort of just fell into it. It’s something I’ve always felt I could do, I was a natural for,” Negreanu said. “Being on camera doesn’t bother me one bit and I thought it would be fun to give people the chance to sort of sweat along with me. So that’s why I do what I do. It’s just fun.”
Negreanu’s victory wasn’t just a personal triumph; it was a celebration for the entire poker community. Among the crowd today, one person stood out: Negreanu’s wife, Amanda Leatherman. Negreanu hadn’t won a bracelet since their marriage in 2019, making the moment they shared on the main feature stage, posing with the new jewellery, extra special.
After @RealKidPoker won his 7th bracelet at the @WSOP Poker Player Championship, @RadioAmanda had the whole rail laughing! Such a sweet moment! ????????♠️???????????? pic.twitter.com/lHeMV8CVrq
— Poker Org (@pokerorg) June 28, 2024
“It’s very cool. This is the first time she’s been down here since we moved here. Because she was going to come when I win, and I haven’t been winning. So it was nice to have her here for the moment, for sure,” he said.
Event Highlights
The $50,000 Poker Players Championship, a magnet for the poker elite, saw a massive 89 entries, generating a jaw-dropping $4,249,750 prize pool. The bubble burst on Day 3, leaving Hal Rotholz as the unlucky 15th-place finisher, aptly dubbed the “bubble boy.”
But his misfortune was a boon for the rest, as the remaining players locked in a minimum payout. Phil Hui and Maxx Coleman, narrowly avoiding the same fate, breathed a sigh of relief as they claimed their min-cashes of $102,299 for 13th and 14th place, respectively.
Day 4 began with the field whittled down to 12. Michael Mizrachi was the first casualty, his tournament life ending in 12th place for $102,299. James Obst, who had commanded the chip lead for the first two days, soon followed, his reign ending in 11th place for $113,028. Renan Bruschi and Joao Vieira were next to fall, their 10th and ninth place finishes earning them $113,028 and $130,943 respectively. Johannes Becker‘s eighth-place exit for $130,943 set the stage for a thrilling seven-handed final table.
Phil Ivey, a poker legend with 11 bracelets to his name, ignited the crowd as he made a significant move up the leaderboard. Whispers of a 12th bracelet victory filled the air, but sadly, his run came to an end in seventh place. Jeremy Ausmus, another bracelet-laden player, also fell short of his goal of winning his seventh bracelet, finishing in sixth place. With these titans of poker out of the running, Day 4 concluded, leaving fans eagerly anticipating the final showdown.
Final Day Chip Counts
- Chris Brewer – 10,425,000
- Daniel Negreanu – 7,675,000
- Dylan Smith – 4,000,000
- Bryce Yockey – 3,700,000
- David Benyamine – 850,000
The nearly seven-hour-long final day live stream is available for replay on PokerGO. You can watch the hour-long preview right here.
Final Day Recap
Day 5 of the Poker Players Championship dawned with five contenders vying for glory inside the Horseshoe Event Center. Chris Brewer held the chip lead with 10.425 Million, but poker icon Daniel Negreanu, armed with 7.675 Million, was hot on his heels. The atmosphere crackled with anticipation as the final table resumed.
Negreanu, ever the aggressor, swiftly snatched the lead from Brewer in a Razz hand, expertly picking off a bluff.
Look at the new chip leader ????
Use code WSOP24 to save $20 on an annual subscription.
????: https://t.co/adEdBmhWVp pic.twitter.com/bK3iIcuT1s
— PokerGO (@PokerGO) June 27, 2024
Meanwhile, David Benyamine, entering the day as the short stack with a mere 850,000 chips, made a desperate move, pushing all-in against Bryce Yockey in another Razz hand. Benyamine’s 9-8-5-3-2 was no match for Yockey’s 9-8-4-3-2, sending Benyamine to the rail in fifth place.
Yockey, riding a wave of momentum, continued his rampage, eliminating Dylan Smith in fourth place with a well-timed seven in Razz.
With three players remaining, the tension mounted as Brewer’s stack dwindled further against Yockey’s onslaught. Brewer called Yockey’s 1.25 Million bet in No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw with J-9, only to be crushed by Yockey’s 8-7.
Negreanu, refusing to fade into the background, staged a remarkable comeback. He pulled even with Yockey by making a straight in Seven Card Stud, and then seized the lead with a massive pot in Limit Hold’em, where he called down Yockey’s bluff with a pair of queens, taking Negreanu’s stack to 12 Million.
Chris Brewer’s hopes of a comeback were dashed in a dramatic three-way No-Limit Hold’em hand. Negreanu limped in, Yockey raised, and Brewer, holding pocket aces, moved all-in for his remaining chips. Yockey, holding a pair of tens and a flush draw, made the call. The turn brought the flush, sealing Brewer’s fate in third place.
We have reached heads up play in the $50K Poker Players Championship.
Use code WSOP24 to save $20 on an annual subscription.
????: https://t.co/adEdBmhWVp pic.twitter.com/3zEYmPs6nw
— PokerGO (@PokerGO) June 28, 2024
Heads-up play commenced with Bryce Yockey (15.75 Million) holding a commanding lead over Daniel Negreanu (10.95 Million). However, the poker legend was far from finished. A dramatic back-and-forth ensued, with Negreanu flopping a flush in No-Limit Hold’em only to see Yockey snatch back the lead with aces up in Stud Hi-Lo.
With Negreanu’s chip stack dwindling, he made a final stand, pushing all-in on a seven-high flop in Pot-Limit Omaha. Yockey, holding aces, seemed poised for victory, but the poker gods smiled upon Negreanu as he spiked a deuce on the river to make trips, doubling up to the roar of the crowd.
OH HOW THE TABLES HAVE TURNED ????
What a swing!
????: https://t.co/adEdBmhWVp pic.twitter.com/kCpYHIa6s5
— PokerGO (@PokerGO) June 28, 2024
Negreanu, now energized and reinvigorated, seized control of the match. He outplayed Yockey in a series of crucial hands, culminating in a final, decisive showdown where Negreanu’s turned full house held strong against Yockey’s draws.
What a night. What a performance. Congrats, Kid Poker!@RealKidPoker pic.twitter.com/NiCq3GJzgJ
— PokerGO (@PokerGO) June 28, 2024
The bracelet that had eluded Negreanu for nearly two decades was finally his. As the crowd erupted in cheers, a wave of emotion washed over the poker icon.
Final Table Results (USD)
- Daniel Negreanu – $1,178,703
- Bryce Yockey – $768,467
- Chris Brewer – $519,158
- Dylan Smith – $363,914
- David Benyamine – $265,054
- Jeremy Ausmus – $200,896
- Phil Ivey – $158,719
Content & Images Courtesy: World Series of Poker
Stay tuned to PokerGuru for all the latest updates as the WSOP 2024 unfolds!
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