Daniel Negreanu is enduring a punishing series at the 2025 WSOP Paradise.
Through the end of Day 10, the poker hall of famer has accumulated more than $400,000 in losses. While Negreanu managed to secure cashes in two Triton events, those results have done little to offset multiple failed entries across other tournaments. His attempts to build a stack include firing 10 separate entries into the $25K Super Main Event without finding a bag.
The frustration reached a boiling point during Event #13, the $50,000 PLO High Roller. Following his elimination, Negreanu stepped away from the table to vent about a specific hand he described as “ridiculously stupid” and “incredibly bad.”
A Brutal End to the $50K PLO
Although Negreanu was officially eliminated in a hand against Artur Martirosian (where he held a 60% advantage on the flop but failed to hold), his post-game anger focused entirely on a previous collision with Charles Hook. This critical pot occurred just a few spots away from the money bubble.
“I can’t believe I’m out. What the hell? Holy smokes, man, this f**king hand,” Negreanu said immediately after busting. “We’re like four out of the money, three out of the money, two out of the money. How am I out? I’m f**king furious right now.”
Anatomy of the “Hand That Really Hurt”
The critical hand took place at the 10,000/20,000/20,000 blind level. Negreanu opened the action with a raise to 50,000. Martin Kabrhel attempted to raise over the top, but because Negreanu had already raised, Kabrhel was forced to just call. This flat call gave Charles Hook the correct price to defend his big blind with a hand Negreanu later characterized as “one of the worst hands you could possibly have.”
The flop brought a setup that heavily favored Negreanu. He flopped top and bottom pair along with the nut flush draw. When Negreanu bet 60,000, Kabrhel folded, but Hook made the call holding only a Jack-high flush draw.
Negreanu broke down the mathematics of the situation on camera. “We’ve got him dead,” Negreanu explained. “Tens and deuces, he only has one overcard to the board, which is the jack.”
The River Card That Crushed Negreanu
After Hook called the flop, the turn brought a Six. Negreanu bet again, and Hook called once more. The river card was a Jack. Negreanu’s flush draw missed, and with the board pairing, his two pair was counterfeited by Hook’s higher two pair (Jacks and Deuces).
The action went check-check on the river, and Negreanu saw the bad news.
“He has jacks and deuces. We’re like near the bubble, the hand is so bad,” Negreanu muttered. “I mean, I’m glad you called because it’s like really good for me, but… how the hell does it come a jack?”
Despite the “tilted” reaction and the significant financial swing, Negreanu continues to document his journey through the highs and lows of the high-stakes festival in the Bahamas.
