Daniel Negreanu and Wynn Part Ways

Daniel Negreanu, the 2004 Player of the Year and one of poker’s most affable stars, has cut ties with the Wynn Las Vegas after serving as the casino’s poker ambassador since April.

Speaking recently in a poker chat room, Negreanu said that he had the desire to play more in big games, but Wynn management wanted him to play exclusively at their casino. The “big games” of which Negreanu spoke are presumably at the Bellagio, where many of the top pros have played ultra-high stakes games for years, but that has not been confirmed.

Negreanu did honor his contract with the Wynn and said "we amicably parted ways."

There is no word yet on how this might affect his popular “challenge matches” that took place at the Wynn. Negreanu discussed these matches (pre-Wynn split), along with other aspects of his poker and non-poker life, with Poker News Daily in an interview earlier this week.

Originally published November 11, 2005