Erick Lindgren – A Baller at and Away from the Table
There is a lot of prop betting that goes on in the poker world these days. Some of the more famous prop bets include the day David Grey wagered that Howard Lederer wouldn’t break his vegan status to eat a cheeseburger, the time that Ted Forrest bet Mike Matusow that he couldn’t drop from his weight of 241 pounds down to his college weight of 181 pounds in a year, and the golf outing that saw Daniel Negreanu and Patrick Antonius playing for $20,000 a hole. And while professional poker players may be pretty loose with their money when it comes to prop betting, it would be safe to say that not many of these players would want to put their money on the line in a game of basketball or football against fellow pro Erick Lindgren – Unless they didn’t want to hold onto it for that long anyways.
That’s because Erick Lindgren grew up with sports while he was a youngster in Burney, California. Eventually, his family moved to North Carolina and he spent many days on the gridiron and many nights in the gym during his childhood here. Erick’s skills in both football and basketball became increasingly better over the years and they naturally translated into his high school playing career.
Lindgren’s lifelong enthusiasm for basketball began to payoff big-time as he was the MVP of the conference his team played in. He didn’t do too badly in football either as he captured all-league honors as a quarterback. But it was his hoops game that Erick decided to try and take to the next level as he enrolled at Butte Junior College to pursue basketball more seriously.
Back out West now, Erick began discovering what a lot of successful high school players find out in that the college game is a totally different scene. And it was a scene that Lindgren wasn’t too fond of either as he found himself becoming more distant from basketball and attending his classes less and less as well.
The reason Erick wasn’t hitting the courts or sitting in his classroom desk as much anymore was because he was making money….as a Blackjack dealer. The casino he was working at in Casino San Pablo began to take a lot of his time but it wasn’t until he found poker that the casino and gambling environment would become his life.
It wouldn’t be long before Lindgren decided that he had no use for college any longer and he dropped out in the midst of his second year. Playing cards and dealing them was his new thing although the dealing part would soon be cut out too. Casino San Pablo management decided that Erick would best serve the casino as a prop player.
During his duties as a prop player, Lindgren would often go around to different poker tables trying to make sure that the games were kept going. He would earn an hourly wage but he also had to put his own money on the line in the games just like everyone else. It was during these sessions that Erick really honed his game as he not only got plenty of practice in at the tables, but also learned a lot about poker by watching and talking to regulars at the casino.
After logging enough hours and learning enough skills from other players, Lindgren decided to shed the shackles of being a prop player and go out on his own. He not only started out by playing at the local casinos but he also discovered online poker in 1998. Internet poker would be his bread winner for a while as he soon owned three different computers and would play up to eight games at one time.
He would take part in lots of $20/$40 Hold’em games and was more than happy to take advantage of how soft the rooms were in those days. Even now Lindgren speaks of how weak players were in the late 90’s and early 2000’s and has told the tale of how he once witnessed a person lose $10,000 in a two hour session just playing $20/$40.
But despite the easy money that came from dominating inferior online players, Lindgren began to long for something more challenging as many other great Internet poker players do. In 2000, he began entering some smaller tournaments around the California area and it wasn’t too long before he experienced his first major success.
Playing at the Bellagio Five Diamond Poker Classic Main Event in 2002, Lindgren was able to make his way through a field that included players like future WPT Champion Carlos Mortensen and make it to a heads-up battle with Prahlad Friedman. Amazingly, in his first big tournament, Lindgren took down Friedman and won the $228,192 prize for getting first place.
Erick didn’t wait long to strike again as he participated in the Aruba-hosted WPT $4,000 No Limit Hold’em Championship. Just 10 months after his Five Diamond Classic win, Lindgren took top honors in Aruba too and netted $500,000 for the win. This Aruba tournament, coupled with his previous big win, really got Lindgren’s name out in the poker world and attracted the attention of Full Tilt Poker. They then began pursuing Lindgren as a potential player they’d like to sponsor and it was now clear: Erick’s decision to drop out of college had been a good one!
But Lindgren was too busy thinking about winning tournaments to revel in his latest success. And he wouldn’t even wait 10 months for his next huge victory as it came less than half a year later at the Party Poker Million III. This is probably where Lindgren could really say he arrived as he had to survive a field that included many of the best professional poker players on the planet. Barry Greenstein, Scotty Nguyen, John Juanda, Howard Lederer, and his final heads-up opponent in Daniel Negreanu were just some of the people who were at the event. After besting this field, Lindgren would receive his biggest prize yet in $1,000,000 as the tournament name suggested.
It could now be conceived that Erick Lindgren was somewhat of an authority on the game of poker and book publisher Collins Living took note of this too as they struck a deal with him. In 2005, Lindgren’s book “World Poker Tour: Making the Final Table” hit the shelves and in it, Lindgren gave a lot of his own tips and advice for how to be successful at the game of poker.
After releasing his book, it was time to get back to the tournament trail and the success kept rolling for Lindgren as he won the PPT L.A. Poker Classic in 05’ which netted him $250,000. Then he provided a solid showing in 2006 at the WPT Borgata Winter Open where his 3rd place finish earned him $282,721. The Full Tilt Poker Pro Showdown saw Lindgren come out on top again and he won a nice chunk of change in $600,000.
This year also saw Lindgren make a major run at capturing his first WSOP bracelet in the $5,000 Short Handed No Limit Hold’em event. The tourney came down to him and Jeff Madsen at the final table. However, Lindgren would have to wait on his bracelet as Madsen was able to beat him and secure the win. Erick would have to settle for second place and the $357,435 consolation prize.
He would definitely be cheered up later at the Aussie Millions in 2007 though as he again won a major tournament. His big win made him $795,279 but it would be his last major victory for a while as he was again shut out of the gold bracelet club at the 2007 WSOP. And despite his decorated career as one of the best live tournament players in the world, this lack of a bracelet began to create talk about how Lindgren was the best tourney player in the world never to win a bracelet.
Things would all change at the 2008 WSOP though. And Lindgren wouldn’t have to wait either as good things happened for him right away in the $5,000 Limit/No Limit Hold’em event. He was able to outplay a final table consisting of Justin Bonomo, David Williams, Howard Lederer, and Roland de Wolfe to capture his first ever WSOP bracelet.
The good fortune for him continued as he made the final table of the $5,000 2-7 Draw Lowball event and again made a final table in the World Championship H.O.R.S.E. tournament. He would take 4th in the Draw Lowball event and 3rd in the H.O.R.S.E tourney which earned him $781,440. More importantly though, his three final table appearances and near final table miss in a $1,500 Limit Hold’em event propelled him to the 2008 WSOP Player of the Year honors.
It’s amazing how Lindgren went from being the star player who had never won a bracelet to finally winning one and being the top overall WSOP player in the same year. And given that he is still in his early thirties, it’s a safe bet to say that he’ll at least another bracelet before his poker career is over with. A lot safer bet than challenging him to a game of one-on-one basketball anyways.
Major Tournament Results
25-Jun-08 $50,000 H.O.R.S.E.
39th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2008, Las Vegas 3rd $781,440
13-Jun-08 $10,000 World Championship Heads Up No Limit Hold'em
39th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2008, Las Vegas 18th $21,657
09-Jun-08 $5,000 No Limit 2-7 Draw Lowball
39th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2008, Las Vegas 4th $156,151
06-Jun-08 $1,500 Limit Hold'em
39th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2008, Las Vegas 10th $14,775
02-Jun-08 $5,000 Limit/No Limit Hold'em
39th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2008, Las Vegas 1st $374,505
15-Apr-08 $5,000 No Limit Hold'em
Sixth Annual Five Star World Poker Classic - WPT World Championship, Las Vegas 5th $37,920
10-Mar-08 $9,600 No Limit Hold'em - Championship Event
Bay 101 Shooting Stars, San Jose 40th $10,000
25-Jan-08 $5,000 No Limit Hold'em
2008 Borgata Winter Open - WPT, Atlantic City 5th $79,800
20-Jan-08 $10,000 WPT Championship Event
2008 Gold Strike World Poker Open, Tunica 24th $12,060
14-Jan-08 $10,000 No Limit Hold'em - Main Event
2008 Aussie Millions Poker Championship, Melbourne 73rd $13,185
07-Jan-08 $20,000 Week 2 - "19th Hole"
Poker After Dark III, Las Vegas 5th
12-Dec-07 $15,000 Doyle Brunson Classic - No Limit Hold'em
Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic, Las Vegas 10th $115,630
10-Sep-07 £10,000 No Limit Hold'em - Main Event
World Series Of Poker - Europe, London 26th £30,770 $61,963
20-Jun-07 $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha
38th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2007, Las Vegas 10th $21,054
18-Jun-07 $2,500 No Limit Hold'em - Six Handed
38th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2007, Las Vegas 20th $12,468
12-Jun-07 $1,500 No Limit Hold'em - Shootout
38th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2007, Las Vegas 8th $12,899
Jun-07 $20,000 Week 15 - WPT Multiple Winners
Poker After Dark II, Las Vegas 5th
02-Jun-07 $1,500 No Limit Hold'em
38th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2007, Las Vegas 109th $5,115
15-May-07 $5,000 Heads Up Event
Mirage Poker Showdown, Las Vegas 5th $12,416
27-Apr-07 $1,000 No Limit Hold'em
Bellagio Weekly Tournaments - Apr 2007, Las Vegas 3rd $7,945
16-Apr-07 $3,000 No Limit Hold'em
Fifth Annual Five Star World Poker Classic, Las Vegas 8th $18,345
25-Mar-07 $5,000 No Limit Hold'em - Championship Event
World Poker Challenge, Reno 10th $25,061
12-Mar-07 $20,000 Week 8
Poker After Dark, Las Vegas 6th
12-Jan-07 $100,000 $100,000 Hold'em Event
2007 Aussie Millions, Melbourne 1st $795,279
23-Nov-06 No Limit Hold'em
FullTiltPoker.Net Championship, Las Vegas 6th $25,000
03-Sep-06 Final 16 - Group C - Match 2
Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament Season 3, Las Vegas 2nd
27-Aug-06 Final 16 - Group C - Match 1
Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament Season 3, Las Vegas 4th
26-Aug-06 $9,700 WPT Championship Event - No Limit Hold'em
2006 Legends of Poker, Los Angeles 34th $17,745
20-Jul-06 $5,000 Short Handed No Limit Hold'em
37th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2006, Las Vegas 2nd $357,435
07-Jul-06 $2,500 No Limit Hold'em
37th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2006, Las Vegas 22nd $19,286
02-Jul-06 Heat 17
Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament Season 3, Las Vegas 4th
30-Jun-06 $2,500 Short Handed No Limit Hold'em
37th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2006, Las Vegas 31st $8,528
28-Jun-06 $1,500 Pot Limit Hold'em
37th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2006, Las Vegas 89th $2,256
22-Jun-06 $120,000 No Limit Hold'em
$120,000 Full Tilt Poker Pro Showdown, Las Vegas 1st $600,000
04-Jun-06 Heat 13
Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament Season 3, Las Vegas 3rd
21-May-06 Heat 11
Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament Season 3, Las Vegas 1st $10,000
10-May-06 $7,500 Heads Up No Limit Hold'em
The Mirage Poker Showdown, Las Vegas 8th $18,624
30-Apr-06 Heat 8
Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament Season 3, Las Vegas 3rd
18-Apr-06 $25,000 WPT Championship - No Limit Hold'em
Fourth Annual Five-Star World Poker Classic, Las Vegas 94th $43,935
08-Apr-06 $3,000 No Limit Hold'em
Fourth Annual Five-Star World Poker Classic, Las Vegas 1st $261,555
02-Apr-06 Heat 4
Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament Season 3, Las Vegas 2nd
29-Jan-06 $9,700 WPT Championship Event - No Limit Hold'em
2006 Borgata Winter Open - WPT, Atlantic City 3rd $282,721
19-Sep-05 $9,700 Championship Event - No Limit Hold'em
2005 Borgata Poker Open - WPT, Atlantic City 29th $14,987
25-Jul-05 $10,000 Main Event - No Limit Hold'em
Ultimate Poker Challenge, Las Vegas 12th $11,000
17-Jun-05 $1,500 No Limit Hold'em Shootout
36th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2005, Las Vegas 9th $20,450
20-May-05 $3,000 No Limit Hold'em
2005 Mirage Poker Showdown, Las Vegas 4th $33,435
25-Apr-05 PPT No Limit Hold'em Final
Third Annual Five-Star World Poker Classic, Las Vegas 6th $25,000
19-Mar-05 $10,000 WPT Event - Limit Hold'em
PartyPoker.com Million IV, Cruise 11th $58,648
25-Feb-05 PPT - No Limit Hold'em
2005 L.A. Poker Classic, Los Angeles 1st $225,000
18-Feb-05 $9,603 Main Event - No Limit Hold'em Championship
2005 L.A. Poker Classic, Los Angeles 5th $206,657
16-Jan-05 $9,500 Championship Event - No Limit Hold'em
2005 WSOP Circuit Tournaments - Atlantic City, Atlantic City 2nd $430,521
05-Jan-05 $7,800 WPT Main Event - No Limit Hold'em
2005 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure, Paradise Island 21st $17,300
08-Oct-04 Final of The Gaming Club World Poker Championship (Pot Limit Hold'em), Dublin 15th $14,545
01-Oct-04 Semi-Final of The Gaming Club World Poker Championship (Pot Limit Hold'em), Dublin 7th $14,545
13-Aug-04 €5,710 Episode 2 of The Gaming Club World Poker Championship (Pot Limit Hold'em), Dublin 2nd
11-May-04 $5,000 Omaha Hi-Lo Split World Championship
35th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2004, Las Vegas 6th $28,440
29-Apr-04 $2,000 Pot Limit Omaha
35th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2004, Las Vegas 17th $5,700
23-Apr-04 $2,000 No-Limit Hold'em
35th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2004, Las Vegas 10th $16,880
08-Apr-04 $2,500 Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo
2004 Bellagio Five-Star World Poker Classic/WPT Championship, Las Vegas 6th $9,215
18-Mar-04 $7,000 Limit Hold'em Championship Final Day
2004 - PartyPoker.com Million III Limit Hold'em, Cruise 1st $1,000,000
14-Nov-03 $10,000 No Limit Hold'em WPT Event
2003 World Poker Finals, Mashantucket 19th $23,475
18-Oct-03 $4,000 No Limit Hold'em Championship Final Day - WPT 2003 Ultimatebet.com Poker Classic II, Palm Beach 1st $500,000
27-Jul-03 $1,000 No Limit Hold'em Main Event
2003 Orleans Open, Las Vegas 2nd $42,835
10-Jul-03 €10,000 Grand Prix de Paris / WPT Summer Tournament 2003, Paris 5th €53,600 $61,656
02-Jul-03 $5,000 No Limit Hold'em Main Event
Festa al Lago, Las Vegas 15th $7,031
13-May-03 $3,000 Pot Limit Hold'em
34th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2003, Las Vegas 6th $21,280
08-Mar-03 $5,000 Limit Hold'em
2003 Party Poker Million II, Cruise 7th $35,180
08-Feb-03 $1,500 Limit Hold'em Championship
2003 L.A. Poker Classic, Los Angeles 24th $7,415
11-Dec-02 $3,000 No Limit Hold'em - Main Event
Bellagio Five Diamond Poker Classic - 2002, Las Vegas 1st $228,192
03-Oct-02 $1,000 No Limit Hold'em
2002 Four Queens Poker Classic, Las Vegas 4th $5,450
16-Apr-02 $3,100 No Limit Hold'em
Bellagio High Buy-in Tournament Series, Las Vegas 11th $4,784
22-Jun-00 $100 Seven Card Stud
Battle of the Bay 2000, San Francisco 5th $1,150
09-Apr-00 $100 Limit Hold'em
Wild Wild West, San Pablo 1st $7,300
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