In the thirteenth episode of his WSOP 2026 Vlog, Daniel Negreanu delves into one of the most fascinating poker topics in recent years: the clash between old school and new school. He also takes you through the challenging $25K High Roller, which doesn’t go as planned.
The day begins outside the casino in a homey atmosphere. Negreanu restocks supplies for couriers and drivers delivering packages or food to his house. The fridge is stocked with sodas, espresso shots, cold brew, snacks, chips, chocolates, nuts, and essentials like wet wipes. He calls this setup a “karma box” and explains that generosity with food runs deep in his family.
Amidst this, his dogs Rocky and Apollo celebrate their ninth birthday. Amanda makes a special cake, and Daniel humorously wonders if it can be sliced, capturing the typical vlog humor. It’s a light start to the day, providing a stark contrast to what comes later. After the homey vibe, Daniel shifts to the topic of staying relevant in a game that’s evolving faster than ever.
New School vs Old School: Why Playing Like It's 2003 Won't Cut It
On his way to the casino, Negreanu dives into a hand played by Brock Wilson, criticized by Mike Matusow. However, Daniel sees a completely different story beyond just a “poorly played hand.” He notices sizing, blockers, capped ranges, river pressure, and modern logic that might not be clear to an old-school player. According to Negreanu, this is the distinction between a player willing to learn and a player who automatically dismisses anything that doesn’t fit his traditional model.
In the past, many spots were played with rigid rules like “always bet this” or “never check that.” Today, the game is more about board texture, range, blocker effects, balance, and timing pressure. Negreanu asserts that to stay relevant, you must be willing to ask: what am I missing? Daniel belongs to the generation that played poker long before solvers but refuses to be trapped in old thinking. He responds to Matusow's criticism as a player who sees how much high stakes have evolved.
$25K 6-Max and the First Bullet That Didn’t Fire
Once at the tables, theory turns to practice. Negreanu enters the $25K 6-Max event, expecting a strong field filled with modern “wizards.” Right at the table, he encounters Brock Wilson, humorously commenting that Matusow seems to understand his hand better than he does. As the game unfolds, Daniel's first bullet doesn’t gain traction. He doesn't win hands, finds no good spots, and mostly waits for an opportunity.
When he finally finds a pair of Q s Q d with about 20 big blinds, a classic tournament setup ensues. Daniel opens, and the opponent in the small blind responds with A d A c . His first bullet ends without much drama—more of a sluggish start to the event that never gained momentum. Negreanu explains he bluffed off one decent-sized pot, got his stack a bit above starting, but otherwise had little to play with. After a brief break, he tries again.
The second bullet starts much better. Daniel climbs from the starting 150,000 to around 300,000, finally having a stack to play with. But then a hand captures perfectly how his summer is going. He opens the button with 9 h 9 s , Adrian Mateos shoves all-in, and Daniel calls. Against A c 7 c , the flop K c 9 d 8 d looks fantastic, as Negreanu hits a set with a big chance to knock out the opponent. Yet the turn reveals T s and river J h , and Mateos hits a runner-runner straight, putting Daniel back to about the starting stack.
Later, another all-in spot arises with A c 6 c on the board, needing a flush. But the diamond doesn’t come, and the second bullet in the $25K Six-Max ends. Daniel concisely notes that $25K events just aren't working out for him in this series.
Big O as an Attempt to Turn the Day Around
After the $25K Six-Max concludes, Daniel takes a moment to think about what’s next. He decides to jump into the $1,500 Big O, even though he openly admits he’s not a fan of this format. He prefers PLO8 and feels that five cards in Big O favor those just waiting for the nuts. Yet, he sees potential for a spin. The event offers two re-entries, late registration is open, and the plan is simple: find decent equity, get the money in, and try to run it up.
However, the Big O section continues the tone of the day. Daniel goes all-in with hands offering low potential, flush draws, straight possibilities, or multiple paths to victory. Yet none of the big pots turn in his favor. After another lost all-in, he simply concludes it’s been a rough day. Five bullets are enough, and he’s done for the day.