Dan Shak
American poker player and hedge fund manager (born 1959)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 | |
| Born | May 7, 1959 |
| World Series of Poker | |
| Bracelet | None |
| Money finishes | 20 |
| Highest WSOP Main Event finish | 167th, 2012 |
| World Poker Tour | |
| Title | None |
| Final table | None |
| Money finishes | 10 |
| European Poker Tour | |
| Title | None |
| Final table | None |
| Money finishes | 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 of $1,107,553 in the 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.[4]
Shak has always considered poker a hobby and turned down any business offers related to it. However, in 2013, at the request of his friend Phil Ivey, Shak made an exception and joined Ivey Poker.[5]
As of 2014[update], his total live tournament winnings exceeded $7,400,000 of which $709,290 came from cashes at the WSOP.[6]
Personal life
Shak is the son of Paula J. Felmeister (née Cohen).[7] He was married to poker player and model Beth Shak; the two divorced in 2009.[8] In 2012, Dan Shak sued Beth over a shoe collection containing 1,200 shoes worth approximately $1 million, but then subsequently dropped the lawsuit.[9] In 2014, Dan Shak married former model Anna Shak. He was recently charged with manipulating the gold and silver markets.[10]