Everyone looks forward to a new year. Whatever happened in the previous 12 months, the Gregorian calendar-dictated fresh start beckons ahead of everyone with the opportunity to score wins, improve our lives and crush at the game of poker.
We spoke to a handful of poker’s biggest and brightest names in order to see how the land lies at the top of the game.
Daniel Negreanu
Daniel Negreanu’s resolution is one he’s making in order to improve his all-in record. Sure, he won the Super High Roller Bowl for $3.3 million in 2022 – even selling some action on PokerStake before in the event series – but recent spots have gone against him such as the WPT World Championship in Las Vegas, where his turned full house was gazumped on the river by a two-outer to leave Kid Poker resolving to find a solution.
“My 2023 resolution is to take down my Christmas tree so that I can eliminate the hex when I’m all in,” he tells us. “It’s been up since November 2021!”
That’s a 14-month span that includes a mold scare at Chez Negreanu which saw Kid Poker and his wife Amanda temporarily relocated to make sure the house was free from danger. That tree might just be indestructible!
Matt Salsberg
Matt Salsberg, TV writer and producer behind smash hits such as Weeds and Kidding, is after something of a reprieve in 2023. Having previously won the World Poker Tour Player of the Year award in 2012, Salsberg is pushing for glory.
“I guess my New Year’s Resolution is to try and get even at The Bike lifetime, so I’ll probably need to win the Legends Main and 3 Mega Millions.”
Salsberg, whose ranking tournament results are worth $2.7 million and put him comfortably inside the top 700 players ever to have played the game, won the 2012 WPT Main Event in Paris at the Aviation Club de France. The Canadian beat Theo Jorgensen heads-up at an incredible final table that also included Mohsin Charania, Philipp Gruissem and Timothy Adams.
Josh Arieh
Josh Arieh, who was the 2021 WSOP Player of the Year and has won three WSOP bracelets in his glittering career, reaches two important milestones in his life in 2023.
“I have a couple goals,” he says. “First and foremost, I turn 50 and am getting married in 2024; I am going to focus 2023 on getting in the best shape of my life. For the past four years, my life is really coming together. I’m proud and thankful for the relationships that have grown over this time, and I look forward to making more meaningful relationships and focusing less on money.”
Daniel Cates
‘Jungleman’ could easily put winning his third Poker Players’ Championship as his priority in 2023, but instead, Daniel Cates – to give him his full name – is thinking the opposite of his alter-ego in 2022, Randy ‘Macho Man’ Savage. Well, kind of…
I have three new resolutions this new years. 1) Conquer any excessive sexual desire, which I believe has perniciously reduced healthy behavior in my self as well as the world. 2) I would like to play the 4th note on the flute 3) Convince @ikepoker of divine providence
— Daniel Cates ?? ? (@junglemandan) January 3, 2023
Phil Hellmuth
One man who is looking to find more glory in 2023 is the record-holder of the most WSOP bracelets in history – Phil Hellmuth. The Poker Brat is feeling a little philosophical… or is he?
“In my book #POSITIVITY (8 Life Tips), one of my tips is to write down your yearly goals and tape them to your bathroom mirror. Here are a few of the 2023 Goals that I will have taped to my bathroom mirror: Get good time with my family, get good time with my friends… win three WSOP bracelets and win two World Poker Tour tournaments.”
Niall Farrell
Niall Farrell has become a father in recent years, but with his son now embarking on his education, the man known as ‘Firaldo’ is getting back to the felt in a big way in 2023.
“I have a real [resolution] of getting back in the conversation of top players,” he says. “The wee man is off to nursery now, so no more excuses for not having time.”
Farrell is one of only nine players in poker history who have won the fabled ‘Triple Crown’, which is a World Series of Poker bracelet, a European Poker Tour Main Event and a World Poker Tour Main Event. Frequently a player to watch in Las Vegas, the Scotsman, who is a huge Celtic F.C. supporter, could be one to watch in Las Vegas this summer.
Whatever your New Year’s Resolutions are, they should start with looking at who you can stake in the next worldwide poker tournament to take place… only at PokerStake!
