On the 2023 World Sequence of Poker, poker participant Cody Daniels impressed the poker group together with his energy and willpower when taking up Poker’s World Championship whereas battling a terminal sickness.
This summer time, the Lake Havasu Metropolis native returned to the WSOP, first taking part in Occasion #70: $400 Colossus earlier than hopping into the record-breaking 2024 WSOP Predominant Occasion. Daniels managed to navigate the bubble, which burst earlier within the afternoon, and at the moment sits with a stack of 300,000 (25 huge blinds) on the midway level of Day 4.
Within the midst of his pursuit of the WSOP Predominant Occasion bracelet and the $10 million first-place prize, PokerNews caught up with the 29-year-old. Daniels shared his experiences, feelings, and the extraordinary assist he is obtained all through his journey.
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Daniels’ pleasure was palpable when he booked his second consecutive money within the Predominant Occasion.
“I imply, once I did not count on to be right here this 12 months and even play the match after which go back-to-back within the two greatest Mains of all time, it is simply pure elation,” he stated.
Regardless of his bodily struggles, the adrenaline and pleasure have fueled his performances. “I am feeling fairly rubbish, nevertheless it’s simply adrenaline, and I assume my engine runs effectively on empty, so it is thrilling.”
This 12 months, Daniels’ participation within the Predominant Occasion was made doable by the generosity of poker professional Alan Keating.
“Keating and I’ve been involved for a couple of 12 months and a half, simply ready to finish up in the identical metropolis to satisfy up. After I busted the Colossus, he requested if I needed to come back to the Aria. I went to the Aria; he was there and determined to purchase me in. So it was extraordinarily beneficiant.”
Though there was an association connected to the buy-in, Daniels emphasised the kindness he skilled. “Yeah, [there is a deal arrangement], however they have been tremendous beneficiant with it.”
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Residing with a Terminal Sickness
Daniels opened up about his well being struggles, which started when he was simply 14.
“My small gut ruptured, and I by no means had even the flu up till that time. I used to be fully wholesome, and I simply wakened one evening with horrible ache in my abdomen.”
After spending six consecutive years in Phoenix Youngsters’s Hospital, his day-to-day life now includes spending most of his time in mattress.
“I had 5 months within the hospital not too long ago, and day-to-day, I am in mattress 22 to 24 hours a day. That is simply how it’s, sadly. I really feel greatest once I’m in mattress, however on the similar time, it isn’t wholesome both.”
Regardless of his sickness, Daniels has a decided morning routine. “My mum wakes me up. She’s the final word railbird; she wakes me up at 10 a.m., and that is often once I really feel the worst as a result of I get fed by way of the tube at evening, so I get up type of nauseous.”
His dedication to taking part in poker is clear as he described a very difficult morning throughout preparations for Day 4 of the match.
“I wakened in the midst of the evening and stated, ‘Wow, we have to get the IV nurse in right here and get a liter to regenerate me.’ So we wakened additional early. They got here right here and received it completed after 5 IV makes an attempt.”
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A Memorable Make-A-Want Expertise
Daniels additionally mirrored on his unforgettable Make-A-Want expertise, the place he selected to satisfy President Barack Obama.
“I used to be somewhat older. So I, you recognize, I did not say I am gonna go to Disney World. I received permitted proper earlier than the deadline, my 18th birthday, and that was the want.”
Regardless of being on a ready record for 3 years, the expertise was price it.
“Acquired to play the presidential piano, bowling in Truman’s bowling alley within the basement, and the ultimate cease was to satisfy him within the Oval Workplace. He was superb, the good president ever. He gave me a card protector together with his title on it. Nicely, it become a card protector, and I’ve used it for each hand I’ve performed since October 2015.”
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The Idiot’s Gold Story
One in every of Daniels’ most touching tales from final 12 months concerned a bit of pyrite, aka idiot’s gold.
Whoever knocked Daniels out would obtain the mineral, with Daniels hoping it will discover its approach to the ultimate desk after which to the eventual champion.
“I had a plan for a very long time. The rock meant lots to me. Once I arrived on the town, I received it blessed at this store in a therapeutic bowl.
“If I busted early, I knew it would not make it to the winner. And if it did, it must undergo like 20 folks. So the truth that I made it to Day 4 and it went by way of solely 5 folks was astonishing.”
The idiot’s gold, which Daniels had blessed in a therapeutic bowl, turned out to be a fortunate appeal and propelled him to a 635th place end, good for a rating of $30,500. And the piece of pyrite has since been immortalised in poker historical past because it discovered its manner into 2023 Predominant Occasion champion Daniel Weinman winner’s image, which at the moment hangs contained in the Horseshoe Occasions Centre.
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One other dream got here true for Daniels when he performed on the PokerGO Studio in January 2024. Within the opening occasion of the PokerGO Cup, Daniels made it to the ultimate desk, the place he bowed out in sixth place for $27,750 after taking up among the world’s greatest poker gamers.
“I actually needed to play as soon as within the PokerGO Studio. That is it. And so I noticed the 5K, and I offered a variety of motion however I simply needed to play. It offers me goosebumps eager about it as a result of I ended up ultimate tabling and took a foul beat. However I walked out with a smile on my face, like, what an expertise.”
And, when requested about who his dream opponent can be ought to he make it to heads-up within the Predominant Occasion, Daniels picked a poker legend.
“Let’s go together with Tom Dwan. We have been sharing our chip stack the entire match.”
Daniels and Dwan are each nonetheless in rivalry, with the latter hovering across the million chip mark. Whereas the Predominant Occasion remains to be miles away from the ultimate desk, there’s each chance that Daniels may tick off one other merchandise on his poker bucket record.
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