This episode starts in typical Negreanu fashion. Daniel introduces himself as the “WSOP DJ,” as after long days and short nights, everything starts to feel a bit absurd. Adding to the chaos, a hotel alarm blares with repeated signal checks, irritating him more than a bad beat. Jokingly, he remarks that he finally understands why sound is used as a form of torture. Despite the long sessions and short sleep, Daniel remains surprisingly fresh. He admits that even though he’s financially down in tournaments, he still feels good.
Daniel’s first hand delivers just what he needs. Opponents limp, he goes all-in with a draw and hits it. A straight on the river doubles his stack, turning the start around instantly. Another all-in follows, with very similar hands, resulting in a chop. Daniel notices an extra chip might have come his way, but he corrects it immediately. He quips that if someone filmed and took it out of context, the internet would paint him as a scammer.
Daniel builds up his stack from a critical low to 535,000, which is average among 133 players. However, PLO can quickly change the mood. He climbs to approximately 800,000 but then faces a series of lost pots. Not one disaster, but several smaller hits that in PLO can quickly drain a stack. Draws miss, strong hands don’t connect with the runouts, and sitting out is not an option at a table full of players looking to play big pots.
Soon, he's down to 135,000, which is around five big blinds. The field bonus is still distant, with about 84 players remaining, and getting into the top 45 seems unrealistic. Daniel realizes he was in a position to realistically fight for points, but the series of PLO pots have put him back into survival mode. The last hand comes with J-J-K-Q unsuited. With five big blinds left, Daniel can't wait for a better spot. He pots it, the button repots, they go in, and the board doesn’t help. The mission for the field bonus ends.
Responsible Decision: Sleep First
After busting out, the question is what's next. On the schedule is the $25K Half PLO/Half NLH, but the tournament is already underway, and there are about two hours till the dinner break. Daniel weighs whether to jump in right away or take a break. The blinds are still manageable, and re-entry options are available, but his body and mind have endured a short night and a swing-heavy PLO day.
Initially, it looks like he might go play after fifteen minutes. But then comes the “responsible adult decision”—he heads to his room for a nap. This is a pivotal moment because decisions like these often determine success. WSOP isn’t just about who has the best solver output. It’s also about knowing when not to sit at a $25K event while exhausted, just because you feel you must.
After the break, an evening reset begins with food. Daniel orders a vegan pizza from Earthly plant-based, claiming it to be one of the best vegan pizzas he’s had. He then returns to the tournament room for the $25K Half PLO/Half NLH. Almost immediately, familiar face Alex Foxen appears at the table. Daniel jokingly calls him a rebel, comments on his “obey” shirt, and when Foxen touches him, he humorously calls for the floor on ‘violence.’ It’s another chapter in their summer comedy that has run through several vlogs and still entertains.
A Sweet Gift from a Fan
The evening part of the vlog is more show than tough hand history. Daniel asks players about a tag team tournament, pairing up partners directly at the table, joking about who will do all the work and who will show up with just five blinds. During this, he plays a spot against a player he convinces the whole table is holding A-3 offsuit. It turns out the read was almost correct—he had A-2 offsuit. Daniel calls a small river bet with sixes and wins the pot.
Then comes a sweet moment with a gift. A fan brings him a package which he opens during the game. Inside is a baby outfit referencing Kid Poker 2. Daniel immediately says Amanda will love it. After days filled with PLO swings and fantasy pressure, it’s a brief human moment that softens the entire episode.
As the day winds down, another swing occurs. Daniel slips to around 100,000 after a hand against Cary Katz, but there are two re-entry options and a starting stack of 150,000, so it turns into a classic all-or-nothing situation.
Ultimately, the day turns out well. By the last hour, he has 399,000 in the $25K Half & Half, the average is about 344,000, and registration continues the next day. It’s a respectable finish to a swingy day. Daniel mentions he's not heading home, planning instead to have a nourishing breakfast, some sun, yoga, meditation, and then dive into the next tournament in the morning.
