New Jersey Poker Player Dan Sewnig Passes Away at 33
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Online poker player and Circuit ring winner Dan Sewnig passed away earlier this week at the age of 33.
Sewnig, who played under the handles “mj23style" and “RedsoxNets5”, amassed over a million in online earnings and was recognized as one of the best online poker players in New Jersey.
Reports of Sewnig's death made their way on social media on Saturday, including an obituary stating that he passed on Aug. 13.
Sewnig's obituary notes that he "found success as a self-employed professional in the poker world" and also states he "excelled in athletics" and "loved playing all types of games, as well as running, hiking, nature walks, and both playing and watching basketball."
Destined for a Life in Poker
PokerNews profiled Sewnig in 2020, noting that he learned poker from his cousin when he was 11 and was playing $5 sit and gos with his fellow seventh-graders when Chris Moneymaker won the 2003 Main Event.
“I'll always remember our friend's mom asked us who we thought was going to win," he told PokerNews. "There were about 50 players left in the TV coverage and Ivey and Farha were the popular answers. I said, ‘I don't know, I've got a good feeling about that guy Moneymaker.’ She gave me a look at the time that I thought meant she thought I was stupid. I had no idea at the time that these shows were prerecorded and she already knew that he had gone on to win!”
"I've also done a much better job of dealing with adversity. Downswings are inevitable in poker and people react to them in all different types of ways.”
Sewnig graduated from Ramapo College of New Jersey, where he ran cross country, with a degree in math and a concentration in education. He was on track to become a teacher before testing the waters of the newly regulated online poker market in New Jersey.
It proved to be a fruitful life path as Sewnig quickly found success and built up a reputation as one of the best online players in the region. When PokerNews spoke to him in December 2020, he talked about an 18-month span he spent improving his game.
“I've put more work into studying and improving over that timespan than I have in the rest of my career combined. I've also done a much better job of dealing with adversity. Downswings are inevitable in poker and people react to them in all different types of ways.”
Sewnig's poker accomplishments included a World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOP) ring victory in 2022 that earned him $12,107 and back-to-back deep runs in the WSOP Main Event in 2021 (79th - $81,000) and 2022 (112th - $62,500).
"One of the Nicest Guys You Could Ever Meet"
When news of Sewnig's death reached the poker community, several players remembered him for his positivity.
Asher Conniff called Sewnig "one of the nicest guys you could ever meet," while Matt Paoletti agreed he "brought a lot of positivity to many people."
Those who offered their condolences on social media included Christian Harder, Daniel Strelitz, Jeff Stellwagon, Mike Holtz, Ryan Feldman and Chris Hunichen.
