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.
| Dan Shak | |
|---|---|
 Dan Shak in 2019 | |
| Playing style | LAG or LP (depending on tournament size) |
| World Series of Poker | |
| Bracelet(s) | None |
| Money finish(es) | 20 |
| Highest ITM Main Event finish | 167th, 2012 |
| World Poker Tour | |
| Money finish(es) | 10 |
| European Poker Tour | |
| Money finish(es) | 3 |
Poker career
editPrior to poker, Shak was a trader on the New York Mercantile and Commodities Exchange (COMEX). In 2002, Shak established SHK Asset Management, a hedge fund focused on gold futures.[2]
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
editShak 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
edit- ^ "Daniel Shak". Global Poker Index. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
- ^ Wachtel, Katya (January 28, 2011). "This Poker-Playing Hedge Fund Manager Sent Shocks Through The Gold Market Last Week". Business Insider. Retrieved October 26, 2015.
- ^ "Dan Shak". PokerNews. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
- ^ "Team Ivey adds new Poker Team Pro Dan Shak". Ivey Poker. January 5, 2013. Archived from the original on March 13, 2014.
- ^ "Dan Shak's profile on The Hendon Mob". The Hendon Mob Poker Database. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
- ^ New Jersey Jewish News: "Obituaries - Paula Felmeister" October 26, 2014
- ^ Barry, Doug (July 18, 2012). "Daniel Shak Decides He Doesn't Want His Ex-Wife's $1M Shoe Collection After All". Jezebel.
- ^ Adams, Rebecca (June 25, 2012). "Beth Shak Sued For Shoe Collection By Ex-Husband". Huffington Post.
- ^ Golubova, Anna (August 8, 2022). "CFTC charges World Series of Poker player with manipulating gold and silver markets". KITCO. Retrieved April 10, 2024.