Erik Seidel (born November 6, 1959) is an American professional poker player from Las Vegas, Nevada, who has won ten World Series of Poker bracelets and a World Poker Tour title. In 2010, he was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame.[1]
| Erik Seidel | |
|---|---|
 Erik Seidel in 2018 | |
| Nickname(s) | Sly, Seiborg |
| Residence | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. |
| Born | November 6, 1959 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| World Series of Poker | |
| Bracelet(s) | 10 |
| Final table(s) | 51 |
| Money finish(es) | 151 |
| Highest ITM Main Event finish | 2nd, 1988 |
| World Poker Tour | |
| Title(s) | 1 |
| Final table(s) | 8 |
| Money finish(es) | 26 |
| European Poker Tour | |
| Title(s) | 1 |
| Final table(s) | 1 |
| Money finish(es) | 1 |
Early life
editSeidel was born in New York City.[2] He played professional backgammon in his youth. He eventually became a trader on the American stock exchange stock market and later moved on to poker.[3]
Seidel was one of the group of now famous players from the former Mayfair Club in New York City, including Stu Ungar, Jay Heimowitz, Mickey Appleman, Howard Lederer, Jason Lester, Steve Zolotow, Paul Magriel, and Dan Harrington.[4]
Poker career
editWorld Series of Poker
editIn his first major poker tournament, Seidel was runner-up in the 1988 World Series of Poker Main Event to Johnny Chan.[5] This final hand was featured in the 1998 movie Rounders.[6] Seidel made the WSOP Main Event final table again in 1999, finishing in fourth place in the event won by Noel Furlong.[7]
Seidel won his first WSOP bracelet in 1992.[8] Seidel has won bracelets in five different games, including Hold'em, Omaha, and Deuce to Seven Draw.
On December 9, 2023, Seidel won his tenth bracelet in the $50,000 Super High Roller at WSOP Paradise (Bahamas) for $1,704,400 to tie Doyle Brunson, Johnny Chan, and Phil Ivey for second most WSOP bracelets all time.[9]
World Poker Tour
editDuring the sixth season of the World Poker Tour (WPT), Seidel won the 2008 WPT Foxwoods Poker Classic, earning $992,890.[10]
In April 2011, Seidel came just short of winning his second WPT title at the Hollywood Open. He finished as the runner-up and won $155,103.[11]
European Poker Tour
editIn May 2015, Seidel won the 2015 European Poker Tour Grand Final €100,000 Super High Roller for €2,015,000.[12]
Other poker ventures
editIn January 2007, Seidel finished in second place in the Aussie Millions $100,000 event and took home $550,000(AUD), beaten by Erick Lindgren in Heads-Up play.[13]
In January 2008, Seidel finished in second place in the Aussie Millions $10,000 main event and won $1,000,000(AUD).[14]
In March 2010, Seidel finished in second place in the National Heads-Up Poker Championship and collected $250,000 after a 2–1 loss to Annie Duke in the final.[15]
In January 2011, Seidel finished in fourth place in the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure High Roller Event for $295,960, then went on later that month to take 3rd in a A$100,000 buy-in Aussie Millions tournament for $618,139. Just five days later, Seidel pocketed $2,472,555 when he won the Super High Roller Event at the Aussie Millions.[16]
In February 2011, Seidel won the High Roller Event at the LA Poker Classic for $144,570.[17]
In March 2011, Seidel won the National Heads-Up Poker Championship, defeating 2003 World Champion Chris Moneymaker in the final. The $750,000 he collected for the win moved him into first place on the all-time tournament money list.[18]
In May 2011, Seidel won the $100K Super High Roller event at the WPT World Championship for $1,092,780. He defeated fellow Team Full Tilt member Erick Lindgren heads up for the title.[19]
In August 2011, Seidel finished runner-up to David Rheem in the $20,000 buy-in 6-Max No Limit Hold'em tournament at the inaugural Epic Poker League for $604,330, which brought his earnings for 2011 to over $6.2 million.[20]
Seidel mentored journalist Maria Konnikova, starting in 2016, teaching her poker and the mindset that it requires. Seidel taught Konnikova Texas Hold'em and eventually she participated in tournaments and won $350,000. In 2020, Konnikova published a book about her experience: The Biggest Bluff: How I Learned to Pay Attention, Master Myself, And Win.[21][22]
Career earnings
editAs of December 2023, Seidel's total live tournament winnings exceed $45,500,000, ranking him seventh on the all-time money list.[23]
World Series of Poker bracelets
editSeidel has won ten WSOP bracelets in his storied poker career. His ten bracelets are tied for third all-time, trailing only Phil Hellmuth Jr and Phil Ivey.
| Year | Tournament | Prize (US$) |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | $2,500 Limit Hold'em | $168,000 |
| 1993 | $2,500 Omaha 8 or Better | $94,000 |
| 1994 | $5,000 Limit Hold'em | $210,000 |
| 1998 | $5,000 Deuce to Seven Draw | $132,700 |
| 2001 | $3,000 No Limit Hold'em | $411,300 |
| 2003 | $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha | $146,100 |
| 2005 | $2,000 No Limit Hold'em | $611,795 |
| 2007 | $5,000 World Championship No-Limit
Deuce to Seven Draw Lowball w/rebuys |
$538,835 |
| 2021 O | $10,000 Super Million$ High Roller | $977,842 |
| 2023 | $50,000 Super High Roller | $1,704,400 |
An "O" following a year denotes bracelet(s) won during the World Series of Poker Online
Personal life
editSeidel is married and has two daughters, Elian and Jamesin.[24][25][26]
References
edit- ^ Rodriguez, Julio (October 19, 2010). "Dan Harrington and Erik Seidel Inducted Into 2010 Poker Hall of Fame". CardPlayer. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
- ^ Schoen, David (July 5, 2015). "Unassuming Erik Seidel merits seat among poker greats". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
- ^ Seaton, Paul (February 18, 2019). "Before the Game: Erik Seidel the Trader (Part One)". PokerNews.com. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
- ^ Wise, Gary (February 11, 2011). "The Mayfair Players". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
- ^ "19th World Series of Poker - WSOP 1988, No Limit Hold'em World Championship". The Hendon Mob. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
- ^ McManus, James (2009). Cowboys Full: The Story of Poker. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. p. 342. ISBN 9781429990684.
- ^ "30th World Series of Poker - WSOP 1999, No Limit Hold'em World Championship". The Hendon Mob. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
- ^ "23rd World Series of Poker - WSOP 1992, Limit Hold'em". The Hendon Mob. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
- ^ Richards, Connor (December 9, 2023). "Erik Seidel Joins Exclusive 10-Bracelet Club, Wins WSOP Paradise Super High Roller ($1,704,400)". Poker News. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
- ^ Murphy, Steven A. (December 24, 2010). "Erik Seidel Enters Poker Hall of Fame". CardPlayer. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
- ^ "Hollywood Poker Open, No Limit Hold'em - Main Event". The Hendon Mob. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
- ^ "European Poker Tour - EPT Monte Carlo Grand Final, No Limit Hold'em - Super High Roller (Event #14)". The Hendon Mob. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
- ^ "2007 Aussie Millions Poker Championship, $100,000 Hold'em Event". The Hendon Mob. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
- ^ "2008 Aussie Millions Poker Championship, No Limit Hold'em - Main Event". The Hendon Mob. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
- ^ Slagter, Josh (March 8, 2010). "Annie Duke defeats Erik Seidel to win NBC Heads-Up Championship". mlive.com. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
- ^ "Card kings take Crown for $4.5m". The Australian Jewish News. February 4, 2011. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
- ^ "2011 L.A. Poker Classic, High Roller Event". The Hendon Mob. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
- ^ Keefer, Case (March 6, 2011). "Erik Seidel wins heads-up title, becomes poker's top earner of all time". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
- ^ Fast, Erik (May 2, 2012). "WPT Championship and $100k High Roller Highlight Prestigious Series". CardPlayer. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
- ^ "2011-12 Epic Poker League - Event 1, No Limit Hold'em Six Handed - League Main Event". The Hendon Mob. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
- ^ Konnikova, Maria (June 23, 2020). "How I Became a Poker Champion in One Year". The Atlantic. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
- ^ Paterniti, Michael (June 23, 2020). "How a Writer With a Ph.D. in Psychology Became a Poker Champ". The New York Times. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
- ^ "Erik Seidel's profile on The Hendon Mob". The Hendon Mob Poker Database. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
- ^ Konnikova, Maria (June 23, 2020). "How I Became a Poker Champion in One Year". The Atlantic. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
- ^ "Erik Seidel Player Profile, Biography and Poker Career". Poker.org. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
- ^ "NUMBER CRUNCH: Erik Seidel Breaks Through $30 Million in Earnings". PocketFives. December 5, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
External links
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