Aggressiveness: 7
Looseness: 7
Short-handed: 8
Limit: 8
No-limit: 8
Tournaments: 9
Side games: 7
Steam control: 5
Against weak players: 8
Against strong players: 7
Best game: Omaha Eight-or-better
Weakness: Efforts to balance his life lessen his money-making ability
Daniel has become a consistent winner at the $1000-$2000 level in a limited side-game schedule. Daniel’s won the 2004 Card Player Player of the Year award and the 2004 WSOP Player of the Year award – pretty impressive.
His light-hearted nature, good writing, and accessibility to poker enthusiasts have made Daniel one of the most popular players. Daniel is often mentioned as the top player by newsgroup posters.
In the past, Daniel occasionally showed questionable judgment speaking his mind, but the grounding effect of the relationship with his wife, Lori, has helped him make better decisions.
Amusing anecdote
In the summer of 2004, Daniel and I were the two leaders in the Player of the Year race. He asked me how hard I was going to try to win. I told him I wouldn’t play many small events, but I was hoping to leave myself close enough so that if I won the final event of the year, I would become Player of the Year in heroic fashion.
Daniel found himself in second place going into the final event of the year. He did exactly what I was hoping to do: he won, dominating the field and making it look easy.
Daniel’s website: www.fullcontactpoker.com
Title: Beat It
Artist: Michael Jackson
Year: 1983
Reason for this song choice
We have seen Daniel progress from boyhood to manhood in front of the poker community. Similarly, this song is about personal growth and making the right choices. The beat and the Michael Jackson’s voice seemed like reflections of Daniel’s youthful exuberance. I could picture him showing the best hand and singing “Beat It” to his opponent.