Editing Erik Seidel

{{Short description|American poker player (born 1959)}}
{{distinguish|Erich Seidel (disambiguation)|Erich Seidl}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox poker player
| name = Erik Seidel
| nickname = Sly, Seiborg
| image = Erik Seidel 2018.jpg
| caption = Erik Seidel in 2018
| residence = [[Las Vegas, Nevada]], U.S.
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1959|11|6}}
| birth_place = {{nowrap|[[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]], U.S.}}
| wsop bracelet count = 10
| wsop final tables = 51
| wsop money finishes = 151
| wsop main event best finish rank = 2nd
| wsop main event best finish year = 1988
| wpt titles = 1
| wpt final tables = 8
| wpt money finishes = 26
| ept titles = 1
| ept final tables = 1
| ept money finishes = 1
| updated = &nbsp;August 17, 2021
}}

'''Erik Seidel''' (born November 6, 1959) is an American professional [[poker]] player from [[Las Vegas, Nevada|Las Vegas]], [[Nevada]], who has won ten [[World Series of Poker bracelet]]s and a [[World Poker Tour]] title. In 2010, he was inducted into the [[Poker Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rodriguez |first=Julio |date=October 19, 2010 |title=Dan Harrington and Erik Seidel Inducted Into 2010 Poker Hall of Fame |url=http://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/10000-dan-harrington-and-erik-seidel-inducted-into-2010-poker-hall-of-fame |access-date=October 19, 2010 |website=CardPlayer}}</ref>

==Early life==
Seidel was born in [[New York City]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schoen |first=David |date=July 5, 2015 |title=Unassuming Erik Seidel merits seat among poker greats |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/unassuming-erik-seidel-merits-seat-among-poker-greats/ |access-date=August 30, 2023 |website=Las Vegas Review-Journal |language=en-US}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seaton |first=Paul |date=February 18, 2019 |title=Before the Game: Erik Seidel the Trader (Part One) |url=https://www.pokernews.com/news/2019/02/erik-seidel-before-the-game-part-one-33371.htm |access-date=August 30, 2023 |website=PokerNews.com |language=en}}</ref>

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]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wise |first=Gary |author-link=Gary Wise |date=February 11, 2011 |title=The Mayfair Players |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/poker/columns/story?columnist=wise_gary&id=6112930 |access-date=August 30, 2023 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Poker career==

===World Series of Poker===
In his first major poker tournament, Seidel was runner-up in the [[1988 World Series of Poker]] Main Event to [[Johnny Chan]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=19th World Series of Poker - WSOP 1988, No Limit Hold'em World Championship |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=8023 |access-date=August 30, 2023 |website=The Hendon Mob |language=en}}</ref> This final hand was featured in the 1998 movie ''[[Rounders (film)|Rounders]]''.<ref>{{Cite book |last=McManus |first=James |author-link=James McManus |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=drHJelHmhsgC&q=Erik+Seidel |title=Cowboys Full: The Story of Poker |date=2009 |publisher=Farrar, Straus and Giroux |isbn=9781429990684 |page=342}}</ref> Seidel made the WSOP Main Event final table again in 1999, finishing in fourth place in the event won by [[Noel Furlong]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=30th World Series of Poker - WSOP 1999, No Limit Hold'em World Championship |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=7797 |access-date=August 30, 2023 |website=The Hendon Mob |language=en}}</ref>

Seidel won his first WSOP bracelet in [[1992 World Series of Poker|1992]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=23rd World Series of Poker - WSOP 1992, Limit Hold'em |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=7956 |access-date=2024-04-09 |website=The Hendon Mob |language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Richards |first=Connor |date=December 9, 2023 |title=Erik Seidel Joins Exclusive 10-Bracelet Club, Wins WSOP Paradise Super High Roller ($1,704,400) |url=https://www.pokernews.com/news/2023/12/erik-seidel-wins-tenth-bracelet-45058.htm |access-date=December 10, 2023 |website=Poker News |language=en}}</ref>

===World Poker Tour===
During the [[World Poker Tour season 6 results|sixth season]] of the [[World Poker Tour]] (WPT), Seidel won the 2008 WPT Foxwoods Poker Classic, earning $992,890.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Murphy |first=Steven A. |date=December 24, 2010 |title=Erik Seidel Enters Poker Hall of Fame |url=https://www.cardplayer.com/cardplayer-poker-magazines/65806-erik-seidel-23-25/articles/19850-erik-seidel-enters-poker-hall-of-fame |access-date=August 29, 2023 |website=CardPlayer}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hollywood Poker Open, No Limit Hold'em - Main Event |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=51175 |access-date=August 30, 2023 |website=The Hendon Mob |language=en}}</ref>

===European Poker Tour===
In May 2015, Seidel won the 2015 [[European Poker Tour]] Grand Final €100,000 Super High Roller for €2,015,000.<ref>{{Cite web |title=European Poker Tour - EPT Monte Carlo Grand Final, No Limit Hold'em - Super High Roller (Event #14) |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=293071 |access-date=August 30, 2023 |website=The Hendon Mob |language=en}}</ref>

===Other poker ventures===
In January 2007, Seidel finished in second place in the [[Crown Australian Poker Championship|Aussie Millions]] $100,000 event and took home $550,000(AUD), beaten by [[Erick Lindgren]] in Heads-Up play.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2007 Aussie Millions Poker Championship, $100,000 Hold'em Event |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=25752 |access-date=August 30, 2023 |website=The Hendon Mob |language=en}}</ref>

In January 2008, Seidel finished in second place in the Aussie Millions $10,000 main event and won $1,000,000(AUD).<ref>{{Cite web |title=2008 Aussie Millions Poker Championship, No Limit Hold'em - Main Event |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=29591 |access-date=August 30, 2023 |website=The Hendon Mob |language=en}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Slagter |first=Josh |date=March 8, 2010 |title=Annie Duke defeats Erik Seidel to win NBC Heads-Up Championship |url=https://www.mlive.com/deadmoney/2010/03/annie_duke_defeats_erik_seidel.html |access-date=August 30, 2023 |website=mlive.com |language=en}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 4, 2011 |title=Card kings take Crown for $4.5m |url=http://www.australianjewishnews.com/card-kings-take-crown-for-4-5m/ |access-date=August 30, 2023 |website=The Australian Jewish News |language=en-US}}</ref>

In February 2011, Seidel won the High Roller Event at the LA Poker Classic for $144,570.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2011 L.A. Poker Classic, High Roller Event |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=50472 |access-date=August 30, 2023 |website=The Hendon Mob |language=en}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Keefer |first=Case |date=March 6, 2011 |title=Erik Seidel wins heads-up title, becomes poker's top earner of all time |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2011/mar/06/erik-seidel/ |access-date=August 4, 2022 |website=Las Vegas Sun |language=en}}</ref>

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 Poker|Full Tilt]] member [[Erick Lindgren]] heads up for the title.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fast |first=Erik |date=May 2, 2012 |title=WPT Championship and $100k High Roller Highlight Prestigious Series |url=https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/13232-preview-of-bellagio-five-star-world-poker-classic-and-wpt-championship |access-date=August 29, 2023 |website=CardPlayer}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2011-12 Epic Poker League - Event 1, No Limit Hold'em Six Handed - League Main Event |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=53278 |access-date=August 30, 2023 |website=The Hendon Mob |language=en}}</ref>

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''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Konnikova |first=Maria |date=June 23, 2020 |title=How I Became a Poker Champion in One Year |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/06/how-i-became-poker-champion-less-year/613372/ |access-date=July 22, 2020 |website=The Atlantic}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Paterniti |first=Michael |date=June 23, 2020 |title=How a Writer With a Ph.D. in Psychology Became a Poker Champ |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/23/books/review/maria-konnikova-the-biggest-bluff.html |access-date=July 22, 2020 |website=The New York Times}}</ref>

===Career earnings===

As of December 2023, Seidel's total live tournament winnings exceed $45,500,000, ranking him seventh on the all-time money list.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Erik Seidel's profile on The Hendon Mob |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=212 |access-date=December 10, 2023 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}</ref>

===World Series of Poker bracelets===
Seidel 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]].<ref name="a763">{{cite web | last=Chaffin | first=Sean | title=Poker News | website=Erik Seidel: World Series Of Poker ‘Bracelets Handed Out Like Halloween Candy’ | date=2024-11-08 | url=https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/29504-erik-seidel-world-series-of-poker-bracelets-handed-out-like-halloween-candy | access-date=2025-02-23}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Tournament
! Prize (US$)
|-
| [[1992 World Series of Poker|1992]]
| $2,500 [[betting (poker)|Limit]] Hold'em
| $168,000
|-
| [[1993 World Series of Poker|1993]]
| $2,500 [[Omaha hold'em|Omaha]] 8 or Better
| $94,000
|-
| [[1994 World Series of Poker|1994]]
| $5,000 Limit Hold'em
| $210,000
|-
| [[1998 World Series of Poker|1998]]
| $5,000 Deuce to Seven [[Draw (poker)|Draw]]
| $132,700
|-
| [[2001 World Series of Poker|2001]]
| $3,000 No Limit Hold'em
| $411,300
|-
| [[2003 World Series of Poker|2003]]
| $1,500 [[betting (poker)|Pot Limit]] Omaha
| $146,100
|-
| [[2005 World Series of Poker|2005]]
| $2,000 No Limit Hold'em
| $611,795
|-
| [[2007 World Series of Poker|2007]]
| $5,000 World Championship No-Limit
[[Lowball (poker)|Deuce to Seven Draw Lowball]] w/rebuys
| $538,835
|-
| [[2021 World Series of Poker Online|2021 O]]
| $10,000 Super Million$ High Roller
| $977,842
|-
| [[2023 World Series of Poker Paradise (Bahamas)|2023]]
| $50,000 Super High Roller
| $1,704,400
|}

<small>An "O" following a year denotes bracelet(s) won during the World Series of Poker Online</small>

== Personal life ==
Seidel is married and has two daughters, Elian and Jamesin.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Konnikova |first=Maria |date=June 23, 2020 |title=How I Became a Poker Champion in One Year |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/06/how-i-became-poker-champion-less-year/613372/ |access-date=August 4, 2022 |website=The Atlantic |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Erik Seidel Player Profile, Biography and Poker Career |url=https://www.poker.org/erik-seidel-player-profile/ |access-date=August 4, 2022 |website=Poker.org |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=December 5, 2016 |title=NUMBER CRUNCH: Erik Seidel Breaks Through $30 Million in Earnings |url=https://www.pocketfives.com/articles/number-crunch-erik-seidel-breaks-through-30-million-in-earnings-592708/ |access-date=August 4, 2022 |website=PocketFives |language=en-US}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Erik Seidel (poker player)|Erik Seidel}}
*[https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-players/735-erik-seidel Card Player profile]
* [https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=212 Hendon Mob profile]
* [http://www.pokerlistings.com/poker-player_erik-seidel?show=bio#pp-bio PokerListings profile]
*[https://www.pokernews.com/poker-players/erik-seidel/ PokerNews profile]
* [https://www.wsop.com/players/profile/?playerid=268 WSOP profile]
* [https://www.worldpokertour.com/player/erik-seidel/ WPT profile]

{{Team Full Tilt}}
{{1990s WSOP Bracelet Winners}}
{{2000s WSOP Bracelet Winners}}
{{2020s WSOP bracelet winners}}
{{National Heads-Up Poker Championship Winners}}
{{Poker Hall of Fame}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Seidel, Erik}}
[[Category:1959 births]]
[[Category:American backgammon players]]
[[Category:20th-century American Jews]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Game players from New York City]]
[[Category:Poker players from the Las Vegas Valley]]
[[Category:World Poker Tour winners]]
[[Category:World Series of Poker bracelet winners]]
[[Category:National Heads-Up Poker Championship winners]]
[[Category:Poker Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:21st-century American Jews]]