Erik Seidel

Erik Seidel

Erik Seidel

WPT:1

GPI:34

$45,692,219

Erik Seidel poker player profile. Get latest information, winnings and gallery.

Profile

Name
Erik Seidel
Nationality
United States
GPI Rank
34
WPT Wins
1
Total Live Earnings
$45,692,219

Biography

Erik Seidel is one of the winningest and best known players in poker history. He is the remaining member of poker's old generation, but is still able to compete in the modern field collecting poker's major titles and trophies.

Intro

Erik Seidel is one of the most recognized faces in poker. With more than $40 million in career winnings, nine World Series of Poker bracelets and one World Poker Tour title, numerous money finishes in all of the world's major poker tournaments and a place in the Poker Hall of Fame, Seidel is nothing but one of poker's living legends.

Read More: Before the Game: Erik Seidel the Trader (Part One)

Background

Born in New York City in 1959, Erik Seidel always had a gifted mind for games of all kinds. He took up backgammon while in college and soon dropped out to pursue a professional career playing the game. New Yorks famous Mayfair Club was like a second home to Seidel. There he was able to hone his skills against some of the best players around.

Seidel traveled around playing backgammon tournaments for about eight years before making some forays into the stock market. With more and more people indulging in poker at the Mayfair Club, Seidel decided to give it a shot. Poker wasnt his only source of income though, as Seidel took up a regular job as a stockbroker with much more of a secure income. The security of a regular paycheck went out the window though in 1987 when the stock market crashed and Seidel lost his job. Luckily, he still had poker.

World Series of Poker

The Mayfair Club was growing with players and Seidel soon became one of the best of them, along with the likes of Howard Lederer and Dan Harrington. It was around this time that Seidel took a shot in Vegas at the 1988 World Series of Poker where he ended up placing second in the Main Event to the world renowned Johnny Chan. A few years later in 1991, Seidel would return to place second in another WSOP event. It would only take one more year for his wrist to be wrapped in WSOP gold.

In 1992, Seidel captured his first bracelet followed by a second bracelet in 1993. Another year later saw Erik walk away from the WSOP with another bracelet. The 1998 was another good year at the Series for Seidel. He was able to cash four times and win his fourth bracelet. One more year later, Erik made a run at the WSOP Main Event again, this time placing fourth for almost $280,000.

Taking the next logical step, Seidel moved out to Vegas with his wife and from there the winnings just seemed to pile up. The years 2001, 2003, 2005, and 2007 all saw Seidel walk away from WSOP with more gold wrapped around his wrist and then after 14 years without a WSOP win, he triumphed in Event #11: $10,000 Super MILLION$ High Roller of the 2021 WSOP Online on GGPoker for $977,842 to take his gold bracelet tally to nine, on par with three-time WSOP Main Event champion Johnny Moss

Read More: Before the Game: Erik Seidel the Trader (Part Two)

Erik Seidel's WSOP Bracelet Wins

YearEventPrize
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 No-Limit Deuce to Seven Draw$132,750
$3,000 No-Limit Texas 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$538,835
2021GGPoker WSOP Online Event #11: $10,000 Super MILLION$ High Roller$977,842

World Poker Tour

The WSOP isnt the only place Seidel shines. He had a deep, second-place run at the Jack Binion World Poker Open in 2002 along with wins at Festa Al Lago II and III, where he secured wins in both events. In 2008 Seidel took down the Foxwoods Poker Classic WPT Event for almost $1 million.

Erik Seidel's Top 5 WPT Results

YearEventPlacePrize
2008Foxwoods Poker Classic $9,700 Championship1st$992,890
2013WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star $7,500 Main Event4th$295,590
2004Festa al Lago III $10,000 Doyle Brunson North American Poker Championship4th$165,000
2009Bellagio Cup V $15,000 Championship Event6th$164,640
2011Hollywood Poker Open $9,600 Main Event2nd$155,103

European Poker Tour

Despite his success at the WSOP and WPT tables, it wasn't until 2011 that Seidel cashed in an EPT event. It all changed at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure when Seidel made two final tables finishing in 3rd and 4th place at the $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em - 6 Max, and $25,000 High Roller events respectively for a total of $340,000.

Seidel completed the poker triple crown, wins at the WSOP, WPT and EPT, in 2015. His single EPT title came in the EPT Monte Carlo Grand Final 100,000 Super High Roller for 2,015,000 ($2,222,222).

Erik Seidel's Top 5 EPT Results

YearEventPlacePrize
2015EPT Monte Carlo Grand Final 100,000 Super High Roller1st2,015,000 ($2,222,222)
2013EPT Barcelona 50,000 Super High Roller2nd557,100 ($745,224)
2011PokerStars Caribbean Adventure $25,000 High Roller4th$295,960
2012Barcelona 50,000 Super High Roller6th153,600 ($188,721)
2016EPT Monte Carlo Grand Final 10,000 Turbo 6-Max2nd138,435 ($158,479)

Read More: Maria Konnikova on Erik Seidel: "He's the Best There Is"

Other Achievements

In 2008 Seidel came close to winning the biggest poker event in the southern hemisphere, the Aussie Millions. He finished the Main Event in second place just behind Russia's Alexander Kostritsyn and took home almost $900,000 in prize money. He then returned to Australia in 2011 for an even more impressive performance. At first Seidel finished in third place at the A$100,000 No-Limit Hold'em event and then a week later conquered the A$ 250,000 Super High Roller taking home a total of over $3 million in cash.

Two months later Seidel won the NBC National Heads-Up Championship for $750,000 and then in May, 2011 he scored another $1 million cash by winning the $100,000 Super High Roller Event at the Ninth Annual Five Star World Poker Classic.

Read More: Erik Seidel Defeats Phil Hellmuth to Win US Poker Open $25,000 NLH ($472,500)

Sponsorship

Seidel has been working at Full Tilt Poker as a member of the site's design team and was a Team Full Tilt member until the site lost its e-gaming license in 2011.

Did you know?

  • Seidel's smallest tournament cash was the $555 he won after finishing in fifth place in the $300 Pot-Limit Omaha event at the Global Pot Limit No Limit Open in Los Angeles in 2000.
  • Seidel became a professional poker player only because of the 1987 stock market crash.
  • In addition to being one of the all-time poker greats, Seidel has a creative side that includes a deep passion for music.

Read More: The Endlessly Creative Side of Poker Hall of Famer Erik Seidel

PokerNews Covered Events

EventPlacePrize
2023 WSOP ParadiseEvent #7: $50,000 Super High Roller1st$1,704,400
2023 WSOP ParadiseEvent #3: $25,000 GGMillion$ High Rollers Championship19th$90,700
2023 PokerStars EPT Barcelona50,000 Super High Roller Second Chance4th€113,800
2023 PokerStars EPT Barcelona10,200 Mystery Bounty6th€22,700
2023 World Series of PokerEvent #78: $1,500 Bounty Pot-Limit Omaha153rd$1,642
2023 World Series of PokerOnline Event #13: $5,300 No-Limit Hold'em High Roller Championship18th$14,688
2023 World Series of PokerEvent #60: $1,500 No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw5th$31,114
2023 World Series of PokerEvent #50: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Championship77th$17,596
2023 World Series of PokerEvent #25: $10,000 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship4th$150,445
2023 World Series of PokerEvent #19: $2,500 No-Limit Hold'em Freezeout132nd$4,387
2023 PokerStars EPT Monte Carlo5,300 EPT Main Event49th€17,250
2023 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure$3,000 PCA Mystery Bounty24th$7,050
2022 PokerStars EPT London5,300 EPT Main Event12th£41,100
2022 PokerStars EPT London10,200 Mystery Bounty3rd£38,160
2022 PokerStars EPT Barcelona25,000 No-Limit Hold'em II7th€65,550
2022 PokerStars EPT Barcelona100,000 EPT Super High Roller2nd€1,286,490
2022 PokerStars EPT Barcelona25,000 No-Limit Hold'em I6th€81,030
2022 World Series of PokerEvent #87: $5,000 8-Handed No-Limit Hold'em3rd$238,321
2022 World Series of PokerEvent #77: $1,500 Mixed No-Limit Hold'em/Pot Limit Omaha156th$2,400
2021 World Series of PokerEvent #78: $10,000 Razz Championship7th$39,987
2021 World Series of PokerEvent #73: 10,000 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship7th$46,140
2021 World Series of PokerEvent #64: $5,000 Mixed No-Limit Hold'em/Pot-Limit Omaha70th$8,826
2021 World Series of PokerEvent #38: $50,000 High Roller4th$358,665
2021 World Series of PokerEvent #25: $5,000 6-Handed No-Limit Hold'em88th$8,040
2021 Super High Roller Bowl EuropeEvent #1: $25,000 Short Deck Holdem7th$48,000
2021 GGPoker WSOP Online Bracelet EventsEvent #11: $10,000 Super MILLION$ High Roller NLH, $5M GTD1st$977,842
2021 WSOP.com Online Bracelet EventsEvent #24: $400 NLH Monster Stack42nd$1,566
2021 US Poker OpenEvent #9: $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em5th$74,250
2020 GGPoker WSOP Online Bracelet EventsEvent #81: People's Choice Event Spin the Wheel168th$1,251
2020 GGPoker WSOP Online Bracelet EventsEvent #76: $400 FORTY STACK No Limit Hold'em409th$1,071
2020 GGPoker WSOP Online Bracelet EventsEvent #67: $500 Limit Hold'em52nd$1,314
2020 GGPoker WSOP Online Bracelet EventsEvent #63: $500 Mini Main Event, $5M GTD556th$2,479
2020 GGPoker WSOP Online Bracelet EventsEvent #55: HK$8,000 No Limit Hold'em Asia Championship, HK$8M GTD326th$2,855
2020 GGPoker WSOP Online Bracelet EventsEvent #53: $800 Double Stack Pot Limit Omaha38th$2,222
2020 GGPoker WSOP Online Bracelet EventsEvent #52: $1,000 No Limit Hold'em145th$2,770
2020 GGPoker WSOP Online Bracelet EventsEvent #50: $2,100 No Limit Hold'em Bounty Championship89th$3,020
2020 GGPoker WSOP Online Bracelet EventsEvent #46: $500 Deepstack No Limit Hold'em99th$1,639
2020 GGPoker WSOP Online Bracelet EventsEvent #40: $2,500 Pot Limit Omaha21st$9,106
2020 GGPoker WSOP Online Bracelet EventsEvent #36: $1,500 FIFTY STACK No Limit Hold'em112th$3,819
2020 WSOP.com Online Bracelet EventsEvent #15: $1,000 PLO 8-Max HR60th$2,016
2020 WSOP.com Online Bracelet EventsEvent #10: $600 No-Limit Hold'em MonsterStack321st$895
2020 WSOP.com Online Bracelet EventsEvent #9: $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Max99th$1,851
2020 Aussie MillionsA$10,600 Main Event5th378,660 AUD
2020 Aussie MillionsA$50,000 Challenge8th198,850 AUD
2019 World Series of PokerEvent #60: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better9th$20,410
2019 World Series of PokerEvent #45: $25,000 Pot-Limit Omaha High Roller6th$264,186
2019 World Series of PokerEvent #40: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha82nd$2,991
2019 World Series of PokerEvent #30: $1,000 Pot-Limit Omaha131st$1,746
2019 World Series of PokerEvent #17: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout27th$5,279
2019 World Series of PokerEvent #9: $600 No-Limit Hold'em Deepstack342nd$1,739
2019 World Series of PokerEvent #2: $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Super Turbo Bounty25th$11,402
2019 PokerStars and Monte-CarloCasino EPT25,000 EPT High Roller18th€43,870
2019 PokerStars and Monte-CarloCasino EPT10,300 No-Limit Hold'em5th€54,320
2019 US Poker OpenUSPO #3 - $10,000 NLH11th$27,300
2019 US Poker OpenUSPO #1 - $10,000 NLH13th$18,000
2019 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure$25,000 Single-Day High Roller I10th$45,020
2018 World Series of PokerEvent #73: $1,000 DOUBLE STACK No-Limit Hold'em (30 minute levels)83rd$1,997
2018 World Series of PokerEvent #42: $25,000 Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Handed High Roller26th$41,049
2018 World Series of PokerEvent #35: $1,500 Mixed Omaha43rd$3,741
2018 World Series of PokerEvent #28: $3,000 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Handed29th$13,132
2018 World Series of PokerEvent #20: $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em64th$7,860
2018 PokerStars and Monte-CarloCasino EPTMain Event111th€9,400
2018 partypoker LIVE MILLIONS Grand Final Barcelona100K Super High Roller6th€240,000
2018 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure$50,000 High Roller4th$260,260
2017 PokerStars Championship Prague25,500 Single-Day High Roller II7th€67,000
2017 Poker MastersEvent #3 $50,000 No-Limit Hold'em2nd$576,000
2017 PokerStars Championship Barcelona25,500 Single-Day High Roller I11th€56,250
2017 PokerStars Championship presented by Monte-Carlo Casino50,000 Single-Day High Roller3rd€423,800
2017 Triton Super High Roller Series ManilaHK $250,000 6-Max Event2nd2,326,000 HKD
2016 PokerStars.es EPT Season 13 Barcelona50,000 Super High Roller9th€137,130
2016 Super High Roller Bowl$300,000 Super High Roller Bowl3rd$2,400,000
2016 PokerStars and Monte-Carlo Casino EPT Grand Final5,300 Main Event110th€10,650
2016 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure$50,000 Single-Day High Roller5th$301,080
2015 PokerStars.net APPT Season 9 Asia Championship of PokerSuper High Roller6th1,696,200 HKD
2015 Super High Roller Series$500,000 Super High Roller Bowl7th$860,000
2015 PokerStars and Monte-Carlo Casino EPT Grand Final100,000 Super High Roller1st€2,015,000
2015 Aussie Millions$250,000 Challenge5th551,000 AUD
2015 Aussie Millions$100,000 Challenge6th500,000 AUD
2014 World Series of PokerEvent #47: $1,500 Ante-Only No-Limit Hold'em59th$3,180
2014 World Series of PokerEvent #40: $10,000 Heads-Up No-Limit Hold'em Championship13th$26,584
2014 World Series of PokerEvent #28: $10,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em Championship11th$30,516
2014 World Series of PokerEvent #25: $2,500 Omaha/Seven-Card Stud Hi-Low6th$41,230
2014 World Series of PokerEvent #21: $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em83rd$2,941
2014 World Series of PokerEvent #20: $3,000 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout31st$7,805
2014 World Series of PokerEvent #14: $1,500 Limit Omaha Hi-Low34th$7,146
2014 Aussie Millions$10,600 Main Event10th100,000 AUD
2014 Aussie Millions$100,000 Challenge3rd1,076,000 AUD
2013 World Series of PokerEvent #62: $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event560th$21,495
2013 PokerStars.com EPT Barcelona50,000 Super High Roller2nd€557,100
2013 World Series of PokerEvent #56: $2,500 No-Limit Hold'em170th$4,462
2013 World Series of PokerEvent #54: $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em174th$2,283
2013 World Series of PokerEvent #36: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout14th$5,555
2013 World Series of PokerEvent #21: $3,000 No-Limit Hold'em (Six Handed)9th$33,090
2013 Aussie Millions$25,000 Challenge3rd125,000 AUD
2012 PokerStars.com EPT Barcelona50,000 Super High Roller6th€153,600
2012 World Series of PokerEvent 60: $10,000 2-7 Draw Lowball (No-Limit)11th$22,386
2012 World Series of PokerEvent 44: $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em261st$1,937
2012 World Series of PokerEvent 33: $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em153rd$2,767
2012 World Series of PokerEvent 30: $1,500 2-7 Draw Lowball13th$4,682
2012 World Series of PokerEvent 26: $3,000 Pot-Limit Omaha18th$13,282
2012 World Series of PokerEvent 14: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout95th$5,295
The 2012 PokerStars and Monte-Carlo Casino EPT Grand FinalMain Event46th€25,000
2011 World Series of Poker EuropeEvent #7: 10,400 Main Event Championship21st€37,000
2011 World Series of Poker EuropeEvent #5: 10,400 No-Limit Hold'em (Split Format)12th€26,618
Epic Poker League Event #1Main Event2nd$604,330
2011 World Series of PokerEvent #57: $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-low Split-8 or Better33rd$10,091
2011 World Series of PokerEvent #51: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-low Split-8 or Better58th$4,188
2011 World Series of PokerEvent #33: $10,000 Seven Card Stud Hi-Low Split-8 or Better Championship13th$32,057
2011 World Series of PokerEvent #24: $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout17th$13,368
2011 World Series of PokerEvent #3: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Low Split 8 or Better32nd$6,868
2011 NBC National Heads-Up Poker ChampionshipNBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship1st$750,000
2011 Aussie MillionsEvent #21: $250,000 Super High Roller1st2,500,000 AUD
2011 Aussie MillionsEvent #8: $100,000 Challenge3rd625,000 AUD
2011 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure$25,000 High Roller4th$295,950
2010 World Series of Poker$5,000 Ante UpFor Africa Poker Tournament5th$30,287
2010 World Series of PokerEvent #46: $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-low Split-8 or Better5th$85,800
2010 World Series of PokerEvent #19: $10,000 2-7 Draw Lowball Championship6th$41,270
2010 World Series of PokerEvent #14: $1,500 2-7 Draw Lowball14th$4,404
2010 NBC Heads-Up Poker Championship$20,000 Heads-up Championship2nd$250,000
2010 Aussie MillionsEvent 15: $10,500 Pot Limit Omaha1st120,000 AUD
2009 World Series of PokerEvent 49 - $50,000 World Championship H.O.R.S.E.8th$162,382
2009 World Series of PokerEvent 45 - $10,000 World Championship Pot Limit Hold'em19th$24,066
2009 World Series of PokerEvent 20 - $1,500 Pot Limit Hold'em7th$24,919
2009 World Series of PokerEvent 15 - $5,000 No Limit Hold'em22nd$21,026
2008 World Series of PokerEvent 43 - $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo4th$68,304
2008 World Series of PokerEvent 34 - $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha w/Rebuys21st$19,257
2008 World Series of PokerEvent 14 - $10,000 Seven-Card Stud World Championship5th$92,825
2008 World Series of PokerEvent 11 - $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout25th$16,920
2008 Aussie MillionsEvent 12 - $10,500 Aussie Millions Main Event2nd1,000,000 AUD
2007 World Series of PokerEvent 54 - $5,000 No Limit 2-7 Draw Lowball w/ rebuys1st$538,835
2007 World Series of PokerEvent 51 - $1,000 S.H.O.E66th$1,528
2007 World Series of PokerEvent 30 - $2,500 No Limit Holdem 6 Handed40th$6,429
2007 World Series of PokerEvent 21 - $1,500 No Limit Holdem Shootout34th$6,757
2007 World Series of PokerEvent 12 - $1,500 No Limit Holdem 6 Handed40th$5,844
2007 Aussie Millions Crown Casino Poker ChampionshipEvent 8 - $100,500 No Limit Holdem2nd$550,000