Daniel Neilson 🇦🇺

Originally from Sydney, Australia, Daniel Neilson’s rise in the poker world started during the online poker boom. Playing under the screen name “dougiedan678,” he became one of the top-ranked online players in the world, winning millions in virtual tournaments before moving his focus to the live arena. His transition was seamless, and he quickly became a regular at the Aussie Millions and various Asia-Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) stops. Unlike many players who disappear after a few good years, Neilson has remained active and profitable for well over a decade, proving his ability to adapt as the game changes.

Neilson is often praised for his aggressive but calculated approach to tournament poker. Having started in the fast-paced world of online multi-table tournaments, he developed a sharp technical game that allows him to navigate large fields effectively. He is particularly skilled at “short-handed” play, where his ability to apply pressure and read his opponents’ ranges gives him an edge. While he is a specialist in No Limit Hold’em, his recent success in the Triton Super High Roller Series shows he is comfortable competing against the absolute best players in the world at the highest stakes possible.

With total live tournament winnings of nearly $6 million (according to The Hendon Mob), Neilson is a familiar face at final tables across the globe. His biggest live score came in 2023 at the WPT World Championship in Las Vegas, where he finished 8th in the $10,400 Main Event for a career-best $600,300. Earlier in his career, he made a massive splash in Europe by finishing 3rd in the 2011 EPT San Remo Main Event, which earned him €285,000 (~$414,943). Neilson also has a strong track record in high-stakes tournaments closer to home. In 2024, he took 2nd place in the Triton One Jeju $25,000 Silver Main for $491,000 and secured another huge payday of $321,000 with a 4th-place finish in a $40,000 Mystery Bounty event during the same series. Daniel Neilson (photo courtesy of Asian Poker Tour)