Daniel Rezaei

Daniel Rezaei was born in Austria and grew up in Leibnitz. He initially pursued law studies but soon discovered a passion for poker while working as a dealer at Concord Casino for 10 euros per hour. Starting in €30 daily tournaments, Rezaei quickly climbed the ranks after winning $100,000 in a single two-month span in 2017. He credits his development to the strong German-speaking poker community, including close friend and fellow Austrian legend Matthias Eibinger.

Rezaei’s early career featured a mix of online and live success. Playing online under the alias "danny98765", he built a solid foundation before transitioning to live high-stakes events. Between 2017 and 2022, he accumulated $1,825,535 in live tournament earnings. A breakthrough came in February 2020 when he finished third in the partypoker MILLIONS Uruguay $10,300 event for $435,000. Rezaei also cashed in multiple EPT Barcelona Main Events and WCOOP events, establishing himself as a formidable tournament player.

Rezaei’s most notable achievement to date is winning his first World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet in December 2025. He triumphed in the WSOP Paradise $50,000 High Roller Turbo, defeating a field of 151 players to earn a career-best $1,900,000. Other major results include a third-place finish in the $10,400 Wynn Summer Championship in June 2025 for $1,181,360, and a victory in the $51,000 Onyx Super High Roller Series Championship in August 2025 for $1,043,530 after a heads-up deal with David Nicholson.

On the Triton Poker Series, Rezaei has accumulated 22 cashes totaling $6.33 million, including one win and nine final tables. His top Triton cash came in March 2026 when he won the $60,000 NLH 8-Handed event at Triton Jeju for $1,939,000. He also finished fifth in the $50,000 Triton Monte Carlo event in November 2024 for $446,000, and took third in the $50,000 NLH 8-Handed at Triton SHRS Montenegro in May 2026 for $693,000.

Rezaei is recognized for a balanced, high-volume, and mentally resilient playing style rooted in modern game theory (GTO). He excels in short-handed and turbo formats, making rapid, accurate decisions under pressure. His approach features exceptional post-flop technicality and disciplined bankroll management, allowing him to compete confidently in buy-ins ranging from $25,000 to $100,000 and above. Rezaei often hones his skills through intensive online play before applying them to live high-roller circuits.

Since 2023, Rezaei has consistently earned at least $1.4 million per year, with multiple six-figure scores. In 2023, he had five $100,000+ cashes, including a runner-up finish in a PokerGO Tour Poker Masters $25,000 event for $222,000. In 2024, he added another five six-figure hauls, highlighted by the $446,000 score in Monte Carlo.

2025 proved to be a landmark year for Rezaei. In addition to his WSOP bracelet and Wynn Summer Championship podium, he finished 9th in the $125,000 NLH 7-Handed at WSOP Paradise for $310,000 and 47th in the $25,000 Super Main Event for $220,000. He also cashed in the EPT Malta Main Event (81st) and EPT Barcelona Main Event (169th).

In 2026, Rezaei continued his hot streak with deep runs at Triton Jeju, including the $1.94 million victory, a third-place finish in the $30K PLO/NLH mix for $240,000, and fourth in the $30K NLH Turbo for $272,000. At the 2026 WSOP in Las Vegas, he placed 4th in the $5,000 6-Handed No-Limit Hold’em for $328,810 and 2nd in a €565 PLOSSUS Bounty PLO event at WSOP Europe for €33,100. His ongoing success has pushed his estimated poker net worth to over $12 million.

As of 2026, Daniel Rezaei ranks third on Austria’s all-time money list, behind only Thomas Muehloecker and Matthias Eibinger. He holds a GPI rank of 11 and has a SPI (SMP Poker Index) of 11,014, placing him 79th globally. With total live tournament earnings exceeding $15 million according to PokerNews (and over $11 million per other databases), Rezaei has cemented his status as a premier force in European high-stakes poker. His journey from low-stakes dealer to WSOP bracelet winner and Triton champion serves as an inspiration to aspiring players, demonstrating the value of technical skill, mental fortitude, and continuous improvement.