Daniel Shak (born May 7, 1959)[1] is an American semi-professional poker player and hedge fund manager known for his accomplishments in high buy-in poker events.
He began seriously focusing on poker in 2004. In 2005, he had his first World Series of Poker cash totaling $45,000. He has been active on the circuit since and came close to winning his first WSOP bracelet in 2010 when he came in second to Chris Bell at the $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-low Split-8 or Better event.
Shak has participated in the World Poker Tour, though he has been less successful. He cashed for $70,000 at the 2007 North American Poker Championships in Ontario. Shak has been most successful at the Aussie Millions where he scored his biggest cash for $1,107,553 at 2010 $100,000 buy in event.[3]
In March 2013, Shak won the $125,000 Party Poker Premier League Poker VI in London winning $528,000, defeating Sam Trickett heads-up.
Shak has always considered poker a hobby and turned down any business offers related to it. However in 2013, at the request of friend Phil Ivey, Shak made an exception and joined Ivey Poker.[4]
As of 2014[update], his total live tournament winnings exceed $7,400,000 of which $709,290 have come from cashes at the WSOP.[5]
Personal life
Shak is the son of Paula J. Felmeister (nee Cohen).[6] He was married to poker player and model Beth Shak; the two divorced in 2009.[7] In 2012, Dan Shak sued Beth over a shoe collection containing 1,200 shoes worth approximately $1 million, but then subsequently dropped the lawsuit.[8] In 2014, Dan Shak married former model Anna Shak. He was recently charged with manipulating gold and silver markets. [9]
References
^"Daniel Shak". Global Poker Index. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
