Seat 1: Dan Shak -- 435,000
Don't call Dan Shak an amateur. Likewise, don't call him a professional poker player, not yet anyway. You see, the successful business man still engages in what made him his fortune, but he's keen to transition into poker by playing primarily High Roller events.
In 2010, Shak defeated Phil Ivey heads up to win the Aussie Millions $100,000 Challenge. That win cemented his reputation as a serious contender, not to mention giving him a $1,107,553 payday. What's more, Shak has finished runner-up in in the 2012 PCA $100,000 Super High Roller, taking home $846,700, and fourth in the 2009 Aussie Millions $100,000 Challenge, pocketing $142,074. As if that wasn't impressive enough, Shak made it back-to-back PCA $100,000 final tables a few weeks back, ultimately finishing in eighth place for $228,960.
Shak has already crossed four million dollars in career earnings, and he's primed to add to that here today as he starts the final table third in chips. If he wins this title for a second time, it might be time to start calling him a pro.