As 2025 turns into 2026, we’re talking to some of the biggest names in the poker world and reflecting on the year’s most interesting stories and events.
Daniel Negreanu and Phil Hellmuth are two of the most recognizable and successful players in the game, having won 24 WSOP bracelets between them.
'It's frustrating that there is actually luck involved'
What have been the highlights of your year?
Phil Hellmuth: It doesn't feel like there are any massive poker highlights. I guess when I finished third in the Omaha 8 or better/stud8 or better. That feels like my highlight, unfortunately.
But we also sold a company for $4 billion, so that's nice.
Daniel Negreanu: Mine is very clear. It has to be winning the Kings of Southshore member/member (golf) tournament at my club. That is my greatest achievement of 2025 by a long stretch.
Golf life is the best life.
Have there been any ‘lowlights’?
DN: You may not believe this, but I don’t really dwell on things, so I can’t even think of anything bad that happened to me. I’m a lucky guy.
PH: I don't really dwell. My life's pretty darn good – I don't have a lot of lowlights. I would say that it’s been kind of frustrating; you can have some real swings.
It feels like sometimes... It's a very weird thing, you can play f*cking great poker and somehow make seven final tables. And then you can play almost as great — or maybe just as great — and just make one final table. And so, it's a very weird thing.
I love Scott Seiver, we all love him, and he won three bracelets. He told everybody he was gonna win three, and I was laughing. And, you know, he didn't do anything fancy, I'm not sure that he played much differently.
So, it's frustrating that there is actually luck involved, whereas in no-limit hold’em, it feels like I can dodge a few spots. These mixed games are frustrating.
Do you have any New Year’s resolutions?
DN: I’ve never actually done a New Year’s resolution, but one thing I have in mind is to make 50+ birdies in 2026 and get my handicap down below 5.
Turning to the future, how many bracelets do you think you’ll win next year?
DN: I'm gonna go with one — one seems reasonable!
PH: I don't know. I mean, I know it's possible to win three. But, I mean, I think that winning one is kind of nice, you know? You win two when you're already feeling amazing.
What’s your wish for 2026?
DN: That somehow, someway, not only is the Big Beautiful Bill edited, but it also eliminates all US taxes on gambling.
Follow Phil and Daniel on X, and check out Daniel’s YouTube channel here.
Additional reporting by Craig Tapscott.
