Jeff Haney talks to poker champ about his protege, Brian Fidler, in big tourney

Wednesday, June 28, 2006 | 7:26 a.m.

Las Vegas' Daniel Negreanu has a new role to play during this year's World Series of Poker, which runs through Aug. 10 at the Rio:

Professional mentor.

During last year's World Series, Negreanu devoted his time away from the tournament tables to cash games, including a series of high-limit heads-up matches.

This time around, he'll serve as a teacher, adviser and all-around poker guru to 27-year-old Brian Fidler of Derby, Conn., who won the right to become Negreanu's protege through an online competition.

By winning a series of poker tournaments sponsored by the Web site fullcontactpoker.com, Fidler earned entry to four $10,000 buy-in live tournaments along with lessons from Negreanu, long recognized as one of the game's top professionals.

Fidler didn't make much noise in the World Poker Tour's Mirage Showdown in May, his first big event under Negreanu's tutelage.

The protege did his teacher proud in his second try, placing second in a field of 110 players to earn $206,800 in the World Series of Poker Circuit tournament at Harvey's Lake Tahoe earlier this month.

Fidler hopes to replicate that success in the World Series. He plans to enter the main event, the $10,000 buy-in no-limit Texas hold 'em world championship, and split his remaining buy-ins among smaller, preliminary events at the Rio with buy-ins ranging from $1,500 to $2,500.

"It's been an amazing experience, and I expect it to get even better from here," said Fidler, a hedge fund accountant. "This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Just winning the poker tournaments run by Full Contact to become Negreanu's protege indicates some degree of talent, so Fidler wasn't a poker neophyte. But he hopes Negreanu's influence can coax his game to a higher level.

"Well, I have a lot to learn yet," Fidler said. "I wouldn't say I'm a great player. But now that (Negreanu) has watched me play, he knows what he has to teach me.

"He has definitely given me another way to think about the game."

Negreanu and Fidler prepared for tournament play with in-depth discussions about the game's nuances, but also by watching "High Stakes Poker" on GSN, which reflects the style of play in the early stages of a big tournament, Negreanu said.

Fidler's outstanding run at Lake Tahoe was the best advertisement the promotion could hope for .

"I think it really validated the contest," Negreanu said. "It made me feel like a proud papa."

Negreanu sat in the front row at the final table at Tahoe and gave Fidler pointers during breaks in the action. The most powerful advice he offered involved the playing styles of Fidler's opponents.

"They don't know who he is, so they don't have any advantage on him," Negreanu said. "But because I could prep him on the tendencies of the other players, that gives him a significant advantage on them

"He's been a very good student the entire time. It's worked out really well. "

Negreanu said he was probably the more nervous of the two as Fidler made his assault on the final table at Tahoe.

"When I'm playing, I'm in complete control," said Negreanu, who placed second in a field of 27 this week in the World Series Tournament of Champions, earning $325,000. "Watching is completely different. I actually felt a little scared for him."

Negreanu plans to continue to work closely with his protege through the World Series.

Oh, and even though he won't be playing in many side cash games this year, Negreanu will be doing some sort of gambling away from the tables.

"Yep, I'm addicted to golf."