Dan Shak
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 | |
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Dan Shak in 2019 | |
Born | May 7, 1959 |
World Series of Poker | |
Bracelet(s) | None |
Money finish(es) | 20 |
Highest ITM Main Event finish | 167th, 2012 |
World Poker Tour | |
Title(s) | None |
Final table(s) | None |
Money finish(es) | 10 |
European Poker Tour | |
Title(s) | None |
Final table(s) | None |
Money finish(es) | 3 |
Poker career
Prior 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, 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.
References
- "Daniel Shak". Retrieved March 12, 2014.
- "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.
- "Daniel Shak hendonmob". Hendon Mob.
- New Jersey Jewish News: "Obituaries - Paula Felmeister" October 26, 2014
- Doug Barry (July 18, 2012). "Daniel Shak Decides He Doesn't Want His Ex-Wife's $1M Shoe Collection After All". Jezebel.
- Rebecca Adams (June 25, 2012). "Beth Shak Sued For Shoe Collection By Ex-Husband". Huffington Post.