Daniel Cates - Poker Player

Biography

Daniel Cates, also known as ‘Jungleman’, is a professional Poker player from Bowie, Maryland, USA. Born November 14, 1989, he has earned a reputation as one of the world's best heads-up No Limit Texas Holdem poker players.

Background

Growing up in Maryland, Cates discovered poker as a teenager and quickly racked up $3,000 in debt by playing against more experienced players in his neighbourhood. At just 17 years old, Cates was in financial trouble, prompting his parents to lock his bank account. He worked at McDonald’s to rebuild his bankroll, earning roughly $1,000 monthly.

Despite these early setbacks, Cates remained determined to succeed. He started playing lower-stakes games online. By 19, he had made over $1 million in poker winnings, largely through online play. However, success was not without its challenges—Cates promptly lost $600,000 of his winnings, which only fueled his desire to become one of the best in the world.

The Rise of ‘Jungleman’

It all began for Cates on his way to becoming a poker superstar with the online handle 'jungleman12'. His daring and assertive game style quickly drew attention, starting at stakes as low as $0.25/$0.50, where he used an approach called ‘reverse game selection’ that involved targeting and besting skilled players ahead of him in rank. He soared up the ranks using this tactic, moving from $0.25/$0/.50 bets to playing at $25/50 within just two years.

Cates encountered a setback in 2009 when he lost most of his bankroll to Viktor Blom while playing at Full Tilt Poker. Nevertheless, in 2010, Cates made an impressive comeback by earning more than $5 million and becoming that year's most successful winner.

Despite facing both triumphs and failures in his professional life, Cates has become renowned for his mental toughness. In 2015, he lost an astounding $5 million at a Manila casino, but he gained widespread attention when he recovered quickly from the defeat and once again attained success.

Poker Career

Daniel Cates started playing online poker with a screen name ‘jungleman12’ for $0.25/$0.50 and went to $25/$50 in two years.

In 2009, he lost most of his bankroll to Viktor Blom at Full Tilt Poker. In 2010, he increased his stakes and won more, including heads-up specialist Tom Dwan. In 2010, he took the Durrr challenge, playing Dwan at four tables of $200/$400 no limit of 50,000 hands. If Cates beats Dwan by $1 or more after 50,000 hands, he would win $1.5 million from Dwan. As of April 2011, the two had played 19,335 hands, and Cates was up over a million.

In December 2018, Cates called out Dwan publicly on Twitter, and later, Dwan paid out approximately $700,000 in 2017.

Tournament Achievements

Daniel Cates's Poker resume is impressive, with numerous accolades. The Hendon Mob database shows that the poker player has total live earnings of $14,493,741, with their best live cash being $1,940,000. This places them 82nd on the All-Time Money List, 40th on the United States All-Time Money List, and 5th in Florida, USA. His highest rank on the All-Time Money List was 75th, and he is currently ranked 6,636th in the Global Poker Index, with a popularity ranking of 117th.

Cates has claimed Two WSOP bracelets in the esteemed Poker Players Championship. His initial bracelet was acquired in 2021 when he triumphed over Ryan Leng one-on-one and earned $954,020. In a historic win for the second year running - unprecedented as it stands - he secured another title at the Poker Players Championship in 2022 after defeating Yuri Dzivielevski heads-up, which garnered him $1,449,103.

Cate's accomplishments go far beyond winning tournaments. The Durrrr Challenge against Tom Dwan, which he participated in, still garners attention today as one of Poker's most discussed events. Though the challenge was not ultimately concluded, Cates's performance on the table cemented his reputation among the globe’s top heads-up players.

World Series of Poker Bracelets

• 2021: $50,000 Poker Players Championship 6-Handed - $954,020.
• 2022: $50,000 Poker Players Championship 6-Handed - $1,449,103.

Daniel Cates’s Net Worth

Daniel Cates’s total live earnings are $14,493,741.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Daniel Cates’s online Poker aliases?

Daniel Cates is known online by the aliases ‘jungleman12’ and ‘w00ki3z’.

How did Daniel Cates rise through the Poker stakes?

Cates employed a ‘reverse game selection’ strategy, which involved seeking out and defeating top players at his limits. This approach allowed him to ascend from low to high-stakes games rapidly.

What is the Durrrr Challenge?

The Durrrr Challenge was a high-stakes heads-up Poker challenge between Daniel Cates and Tom Dwan. Cates was up over $1 million before the challenge faced delays and remained unresolved.

What are Daniel Cates's major poker accomplishments?

Cates has won two World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets in the Poker Players Championship, and his live tournament winnings exceed $14 million.