Erik Seidel

Erik Seidel is a professional poker player from Las Vegas, Nevada. He is one of the most successful poker players in history with 8 WSOP bracelets and a WPT title.

Born in 1959 in New York City, Seidel left college in the '70s to become a professional backgammon player. He played backgammon for years and was at a backgammon tournament in Las Vegas when he started playing poker regularly. He was one of the group of now-famous poker players who played at the Mayfair Club, including Howard Lederer and Dan Harrington. Seidel wanted a more stable income than poker allowed, so in 1985, he got a job on Wall Street as an options trader.

He returned to poker in 1987 and, in 1988, some friends helped him buy into his first major tournament, the WSOP. He finished 2nd to Johnny Chan in the Main Event. Years later, the movie Rounders showed the now-infamous final hand between the then-inexperienced Seidel and Chan in the movie where Chan trapped Seidel into moving all-in with a pair of queens when Chan had the nut straight.

Seidel won his first WSOP bracelet in 1992, then followed that up with another in '93 and '94.

Despite his impressive showing in poker tournaments, Seidel kept his finance job and played poker on the side. He didn't turn pro until he moved to Las Vegas in 1995.

Seidel made the final table at the WSOP main event again in 1999, finishing in 4th to winner Noel Furlong.

In January 2007, Seidel finished 2nd place in the Aussie Millions $10,000 event and took home (AUD)$550,000, beaten by Erick Lindgren in Heads-Up play.

In January 2008, Seidel finished 2nd in the Aussie Millions $10,000 main event, winning (AUD)$1,000,000.

During season 6 of the WPT, Seidel won the 2008 WPT Foxwoods Poker Classic, earning $992,890.

Seidel regularly plays in the biggest cash games in Las Vegas. He started some controversy at the beginning of the poker boom because he was one of the players who didn't want to show his cards to the cameras.

Like many of the big stars of the '90s and early 2000s (like Brunson, Scotty Nguyen) Seidel hasn't had the same impact in recent years as he did in the past because of the big fields of today's tournaments. But he still has been able to add a couple of bracelets and still has the respect of the poker world.

As of 2009, he has 18 WPT cashes, 3 WPT final tables, 1 WPT title, 8 WSOP bracelets, and total live tournament winnings exceed $9,700,000. His 57 WSOP cashes put him in 4th for all time, tied with Berry Johnston. Seidel has won bracelets in 5 different games, including Hold'em, Omaha, and Deuce to Seven Draw. Only 4 players in (Phil Hellmuth, Doyle Brunson, Johnny Chan, and Johnny Moss) have won more bracelets than Seidel. Seidel is a member of Team Full Tilt Poker.

WSOP Bracelets

Year	Event	Prize
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 No-Limit Deuce to Seven Draw Lowball w/rebuys	$538,835

COMMENTS:

Eric Seidel is as good at poker, as he is ugly.

In other words, he's one ugly bastard that knows how to play some poker!

bad_dog76 on April 28, 2008

Now Hellmuth has a WSOP record...top 3 finishes of (18) 10-6-2

????? on October 26, 2006

Seidel is one of my personal favorites for the fact that he is very much like me a a person but is his cerebral game better-suited for the old style of poker as sopposed to the new faster, aggressive version of poker these days.

HPG ADMIN on July 25, 2006

The most underrated player in the game. i think he is a great player.

jarrel on July 25, 2006

WSOP 1st (x7)...2nd (x2)...3rd (x5)

Top 3 finishes in WSOP

Men Master...18...(6-5-7)
Chan............16..(10-5-1)
Brunson........16...(10-3-3)
Hellmuth.......16.....(9-5-2)
TJ................15....(8-5-4)
Seidel...........14....(7-2-5)

????? on May 31, 2006

He has seven World Series of Poker titles and is the only player in the last 25 years to win World Series titles in three consecutive years. His most recent World Series victory came in the 2005 $2,000 No-limit Hold 'em event.

playpoker on January 24, 2006

Try 7 WSOP bracelets. only 4 players have more bracelets.

playpoker on January 24, 2006

5 WSOP Bracelets..(2)NLH (2) LH(1 ea) 2-7- Pl Omh- hi-lo Omh

????? on December 15, 2005

Seidel = I can't win at poker and i only finish second.

Unregistered on August 19, 2005

Whatever.I've played with him, and he isn't an easy opponent.I actually came out ahead that day, but I could see that long term he would've probably kicked my ass.

gulfport on August 19, 2005

Who cares if he finishes 2nd all the time - still get a nice paycheck regardless! Just to consistently make final tables is more than enough to live comfortably for him.

The Joker on August 16, 2005

seems like he finishes second all the time, must not be a great heads up player but otherwise he is great

pocket9z on August 14, 2005

Had the fine opportunity to sit to the right of him during play money 10/20 at Full Tilt. He was very nice. Not a bad player either ;) Chatted to all who had anything good to say. Needless to say most were positive. All in all it was an ejoyable experience.

AT777 on August 9, 2005

good player he just flentches somtimes.

mercinary mike on August 2, 2005

if not rogaine please try the old fashioned combover.

Unregistered on July 30, 2005

He was also one of the top backgammon players in the 1970s and 1980s before he turned to poker. Guess there was more action in poker.

Steve on July 29, 2005

Erik (not Eric) won his 7th bracelet at this year's WSOP. Meanwhile jackpot lost his fifth play money bankroll on Pacific Poker.

Vegas Mike on July 28, 2005

"Posted by: J on Dec 28, 2004 - IP=64.136.26.227asked the guy for an autograph on fulltilt and got no email reply... what a jerk" not all pros can find time in there schedule to reply to every fans e-mail as they always say. and hows he gonna sign an e-mail u idiot.

JetsFan315 on July 28, 2005

"Posted by: Nate71 on Apr 27, 2004 Eric, watch out for me! The big red machine is gonna get you. Btw, nice move-in on Chan in 89', that's gotta suck eh?" r u one of those fish on Empire who think they r better then every1. well he has like 5 WSOP Bracelets, u would be the first to be out on a WSOP event. and second isnt that bad espacially when ur against JOHNNY FREAKIN CHAN A POKER LEGEND

JetsFan315 on July 12, 2005

Erik has always been the best - you rock and deserve the respect

Darcey on July 7, 2005

Last hand WSOP in -88 will always follow him. Chan dominate him totally but Seidel is a nice guy and a good player!

Wake on June 11, 2005

I love watching that bit on Rounders. But honestly who cares, finishing 2nd in the WSOP is nothing to sneeze at. Chan plays pretty wild, Eric really thought his queens were good.

Observer on June 11, 2005

I played Eric in the NBC National Heads Tournament that aired this month. It was the first and only time we met. he is a class act. Even though I got lucky and beat him, he was more upset about what his high school (honor student)daughter told him that day. She told him Paris Hilton was her role model and I agree with him. Don't worry Eric I'm sure it's just a phase, if she has even part of your intellect she get over it.Till we meet again......

Dennis Wager on May 14, 2005

Hey Eric, I'll bet you have better things to do than read what some jealous fools say about your hair. But just in case you check out this site, here's a howdy from Kate from the early 80's hanging out in the Vegas and NY with Billy Horan. I'm glad to see you've done so well for yourself!

kate on April 19, 2005

One of the best no limit players. He rules

cool head on March 26, 2005

A real classy guy, saw him on Full Tilt and spoke to him and he actually talks back and does not ignore you like other pros.

Evan Ebull838 on March 25, 2005

world class player who it seems makes alot of people envious with his ability to be so good.

largeman on March 9, 2005

Relax haters. I'm sure he can win in one night what you will never see in your lifetime. I had the good fortune to play Seidel on Full Tilt. I played some 7 card stud. Yes I tried to be some kind of hero by bouncing him with nothing more than consealed 6's to his rolled up Kings and he made a Kings Full over Aces house on me. But totally nice guy. If he writes a book, it'll vastly help other players, but a magician never reveals his secrets. So he'll likely dominate for years to come.

Bender2004 on January 25, 2005

eric is a great player. but hasnt played well in tourneys as of late...he even mentioned in an interview that hes been in a cold spell...im sure he dpes well in huge cash games tho...id like to see him play better in some tourneys, hes a nice guy...i just hate that he works on the worst tv show in history....tilt,...

iveyfan05 on January 25, 2005

this guy cant even pay his bills

jackpot on January 24, 2005

asked the guy for an autograph on fulltilt and got no email reply... what a jerk

J.. on December 27, 2004

after he asked for my email address

J.. on December 27, 2004

great player top ten in world in my book.

jay11674 on December 7, 2004

this guy spells consistency in the earnings department

brill on December 2, 2004

guy is a truly great player and a nice guy from everything that i have seen about him...he has only 1 flaw....his friendship with annie duke

djnpa_30 on November 25, 2004

Good points,im sure he is a nice man and a great player,but that little bit of fluff (see above picture of eric) at the front of his head has got to go.

Unregistered on November 15, 2004

22 final wsop final tables, is he related to the poker God himself? nice man

Jazz on November 14, 2004

yeah I love these guys who slag Erik for his baldness. Most likely these are grossly overweight slobs who are envious of Erik's trim physique. This guy is action not flash and bluster like many players. His analyical mind and calm demeanor will eviscerate the phonies soon enough. I predict his current cool spell is going to break in a big way. Last time I checked he drove a Lexus.

slimlouie on November 10, 2004

too bad no one so far seems to really know him. he is the only player to be in the top 10 on the all time money list for the WSOP and Bellagio. He has been more consistent than any other player in the game. He has wsop 6 bracelets, only 4 other players, i think, have more. Unfortunately anyone who has only watched poker on tv doesn't really know the players. By the way his name is spelled ERIK. He doesn't live in athem, he doesn't drive a pathfinder and he isn't vain, conceited nor concerned with what people think about his poker or his looks. I actually feel sorry for all you losers who have never had the privledge to have met and talked with him. He is very aproachable so give the guy a chance before you pass judgement on someone you don't know.

Unregistered on November 9, 2004

I hate to do this on a website but I was unable to find any type of e-mail address for Eric Seidel. If anyone out there knows his address (or him) can you pass along some medical information? There is a medical condition known as Marfan syndrome (some people think that Lincoln may have had this syndrome). People with this syndrome have a certain body habitus. Not everyone who has this shape has the syndrome, but Eric Seidel has some of the features (tall, long arms, long fingers, etc.). The risk of this syndrome is that this person can have a serious problem with their aorta. If Eric Seidel is not aware of this--he may wish to be examined by his physician and have an echocardiogram. Better to be safe then sorry.

JNY50 on October 18, 2004

I think he's generally a nice guy who doesn't take any of this shit seriously.

Unregistered on September 20, 2004

the most consistent player but lacks the agressive play you need in poker, sucks what happened an 88 but hey man at least you tried... LOSER

pocket7s on September 3, 2004

Shave Your Head

Unregistered on August 25, 2004

He Is A Moron - Just Check The Nuts To Him

Unregistered on August 1, 2004

Face it people, He is one of the best No Limit player in the world if not the best. For anyone to write a bad word about Eric proves you don't know him. He is the class of poker. Playing with him and watching him play has improved my game more than any book.. Thanks Eric keep up the good work!!

shady on July 31, 2004

Seidle is one of the nicest guys around. Good player, who is on the cusp of greatness. Hopefully he's have his breakthough.

Ken. on July 22, 2004

I respect him and wish that people would learn more about him than that he got beat by Chan at 89 WSOP (most only know that b/c of one of the greatest poker movies ever, Rounders)and that he didnt want every pro and every person w/ a TV to know how he plays

david on July 17, 2004

Loser. Chan had you beat in the wsop heads up battle. you look like a turtle. haha

SteveJones on July 14, 2004

Wow Yu Guys Sure Know How Too Hate Seidel Is Indisputably One Of The Top 25 Players (tournament) In The World Whats The Hate About He Has Mucho Dinero And Of Course He Is Jewish So Stop Your Hate

ALL THIS HATE on July 14, 2004

Why are you scared to show ur cards to the camera? This guy needs to grow some balls

Scotty2Hotty on July 6, 2004

nice guy. still, chan fucked him nicely.

tycoon on June 27, 2004

Another moron..."Oh I'll put a ship in front of the card camera because it makes me nervous" The only one who bitches about it. Hair club for men is looking for you!

Unregistered on June 20, 2004

I seen the 2003 US Championship an d00d tried to hide his whole cards from the card cam so we couldn't see them. That was pretty dumb for him to even do. The reason is the card cam is not goin anywhere and why fight it now?

Mr. Beats on June 7, 2004

good player, but he is too anal, he hides his hands so the cameras dont see them!

big dog on May 17, 2004

Siedel is the master of cool. Very polite, and surprisingly witty.

jackten on May 16, 2004

a great playerhe can always make a decision witch can bring him the title

mario on April 28, 2004

Eric, watch out for me! The big red machine is gonna get you. Btw, nice move-in on Chan in 89', that's gotta suck eh?

Nate71 on April 26, 2004

I´m impressed by his coolness. He doesn´t need to be fancy, chat chat player, and doesn´t need any cap or glasses. He´s as cool as needed. He always manages to be in the final table, always.

My fav. poker player on April 4, 2004

One of my favorite players.

Roy Batty on April 2, 2004

I guess he's a great player, but i've never ONCE seen him win heads up for a championship in like 5 times televised. Matter of fact, he got PANTSED in every single instance. Class act tho, just don't quite see the proper killer instinct, possibly tempered by an overanalytical mind.

pokerdali on March 11, 2004

real player, decent guy, good ambassador for the game

Ron on January 27, 2004

Worm

Erik Seidel

WSOP Bracelets

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