Erik Seidel
Could Erik Seidel be dubbed Erik the Great?
Born and raised in New York City, Erik didn’t begin his tournament play as a poker player, but rather on the backgammon circuit. He played the game professionally for eight years before the need for bigger prizes and more challenges led him to the stock market. While pursuing his quest to become a successful trader on Wall Street, he began to drift towards the excitement of the poker tables.
Erik (nickname Sly), now calling Las Vegas home, has dedicated himself to winning poker tournaments as a profession. But no matter how many times he has cashed, how many titles he holds, or how long it has been, the world will never let him forget his loss to Johnny Chan in the 1988 World Series of Poker Main Event. Even though this loss was very early in the young player’s career, the moment will live forever, immortalized in the footage of the movie about poker, “Rounders.”
Although Erik is often overlooked and underrated, he should be ranked with the top No-Limit Hold’em players in the world, if not one of the best tournament players of all times. With eight
WSOP bracelets to his credit, total winnings in the millions, in the Top 10 all-time money list for the WSOP, and the Foxwoods WPT title that pushed him into the lead in Player of the Year standings - Erik the Great - probably.
When not playing in tournaments, Erik listens to music, plays tennis, and can be found playing poker online at
Full Tilt Poker . He appeared on To Tell the Truth at the age of 12 and receives much more fame and TV time since becoming a professional poker player.
Tournaments and Winnings
Hall Of Fame Poker Classic 1990
$23010 4 $ 2,000 + 50 Limit Hold"em
19th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1988
$280000 2 $ 10,000 No Limit Hold"em World Championship
4th Annual Diamond Jim Brady
$144000 1 $ 1,000 No Limit Hold"em
Hall of Fame Poker Classic 1989
$11600 8 $ 5,000 + 50 Championship Event - No Limit Hold"em
Hall of Fame Poker Classic 1992
$1380 17 $ 1,500 + 60 Pot Limit Hold"em
23rd World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1992
$168000 1 $ 2,500 Limit Hold"em
Queens Poker Classic II
$1016 16 $ 1,000 + 50 Pot Limit Hold"em
$100000 2 $ 5,000 + 80 No Limit Hold"em
22nd World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1991
$105000 2 $ 5,000 Limit Hold"em
Hall Of Fame Poker Classic 1991
$2340 9 $ 1,500 + 60 Pot Limit Omaha
$7125 7 $ 1,500 + 60 No Limit Hold"em
Queens Poker Classic IV
$2520 8 $ 1,000 + 50 Pot Limit Hold"em
$1618 12 $ 500 + 30 Limit Hold"em
25th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1994
$12968 6 $ 1,500 Pot Limit Hold"em
$5300 14 $ 2,500 Limit Hold"em
$210000 1 $ 5,000 Limit Hold"em
10th Annual Diamond Jim Brady
$75600 1 $ 1,000 No Limit Hold"em
Queens Poker Classic Summer Edition
$32000 3 $ 2,500 + 60 No Limit Hold"em
Hall of Fame Poker Classic 1994
$9000 2 $ 1,500 Chinese Poker
1994 World Poker Finals
$7800 3 $ 2,000 No Limit Hold"em
$7420 5 $ 2,000 Limit Hold"em
Queens Poker Classic III
$36000 2 $ 500 + 30 No Limit Hold"em
1993 L.A. Poker Classic
$22500 4 $ 5,000 + 80 No Limit Hold"em - Championship Event
24th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1993
$3060 15 $ 1,500 Hold"em Pot Limit
$94000 1 $ 2,500 Omaha 8 or Better
$3725 15 $ 2,500 Limit Hold"em
1993 World Poker Finals
$4400 5 $ 2,000 Limit Hold"em
Queens Poker Classic V
$8010 6 $ 500 + 30 Pot Limit Hold"em
LA Poker Classic IV
$15450 3 $ 1,000 + 50 Pot Limit Omaha
Aviation Club de France - Opening Festival
$972 7 FF 5,000 Pot Limit Hold"em
26th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1995
$11625 7 $ 2,500 Limit Hold"em
151 $ 10,000 No Limit Hold"em World Championship
1995 Legends of Poker
$5715 6 $ 1,000 + 50 Limit Hold"em
$9075 5 $ 1,000 + 50 No Limit Hold"em
$15400 5 $ 5,000 + 75 No Limit Hold"em - Championship Event
1995 Four Queens Poker Classic
$60000 1 $ 1,000 Pot Limit Omaha
$37100 4 $ 5,000 No Limit Hold"em
Amarillo Slim"s Superbowl of Poker
$13110 2 $ 1,000 + 50 No Limit Hold"em
27th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1996
$4215 14 $ 1,500 Omaha Pot Limit
$16313 6 $ 2,500 Omaha Pot Limit
Grosvenor European Open Championships
$15998 4 £ 1,500 No Limit Hold"em Main Event
1996 Legends of Poker
$10750 4 $ 2,500 + 60 No Limit Hold"em
1996 Four Queens Poker Classic
$15400 5 $ 5,085 No Limit Hold"em - Championship Finals
1997 Four Queens Poker Classic
$2905 9 $ 1,000 + 55 Pot Limit Omaha
28th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1997
$70720 4 $ 2,000 Limit Hold"em
$28950 5 $ 3,000 Limit Hold"em
$56000 3 $ 5,000 Limit Hold"em
1997 Legends Of Poker
$39375 1 $ 2,500 No Limit Hold"em
International Pot-Limit Rendezvous
$16000 1 $ 2,000 Pot Limit Hold"em
1998 Four Queens Poker Classic
$16400 1 $ 500 + 40 Limit Hold"em Shootout
29th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1998
$40800 3 $ 2,500 Omaha Pot Limit
$5160 17 $ 3,000 Hold"em Pot Limit
$132750 1 $ 5,000 Deuce to Seven Draw
$43560 4 $ 3,000 No Limit Hold"em
1998 United States Poker Championship
$3690 6 $ 1,000 No Limit Hold"em
Euro Finals of Poker 1999
$2251 6 FF 3,000 No Limit Hold"em
30th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1999
$5500 17 $ 5,000 Limit Hold"em
$279500 4 $ 10,000 No Limit Hold"em World Championship
California State Poker Championship 1999
$1232 7 $ 300 + 30 Omaha Hi-Lo Split
1999 United States Poker Championship
$3685 5 $ 1,000 + 60 Omaha Hi-Lo Split
The First Annual Jack Binion World Poker Open
$1266 10 $ 500 + 40 No Limit Hold"em
$22931 3 $ 1,000 + 60 Pot Limit Omaha
$7159 10 $ 5,000 + 100 No Limit Hold"em Championship
31st World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2000
$4485 17 $ 1,500 + 70 Pot Limit Omaha
Global Pot Limit No Limit Open
$555 5 $ 300 + 30 Pot Limit Omaha
2000 Legends of Poker
$4680 5 $ 1,000 + 60 No Limit Hold"em
Poker Million 2000
$1908 8 £ 250 + 20 Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Lo
32nd World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2001
$5010 10 $ 1,500 + 90 Omaha (pot limit)
$39460 4 $ 3,000 + 120 Texas Hold"em (pot limit)
$411300 1 $ 3,000 + 120 Texas Hold"em (no limit)
Linda Johnson Celebrity Challenge 2001
$985 7 $ 10 No Limit Hold"em - Alex Brenes Challenge
2001 Four Queens Poker Classic
$2400 5 $ 500 + 40 Pot Limit Hold"em
$9094 8 $ 5,000 + 100 No Limit Hold"em Championship Event
The Third Annual Jack Binion World Poker Open
$1398 15 $ 1,000 + 60 Pot Limit Texas Hold"em
$258020 2 $ 10,000 No Limit Texas Hold"em Championship
2002 L.A. Poker Classic
$12900 4 $ 1,000 + 60 No Limit Hold"em
$1476 17 $ 1,000 + 60 Omaha Hi/Lo
$6320 5 $ 1,000 + 60 Pot Limit Hold"em
Bellagio High Buy-in Tournament Series
$45832 1 $ 3,100 Mixed Games (Stud/Omaha 8/Limit Hold"em/No Limit Hold"em)
$6063 4 $ 2,500 Pot Limit Hold"em
33rd World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2002
$38580 3 $ 2,000 Pot Limit Hold"em
$8180 11 $ 1,500 No Limit Hold"em
Grand Slam of Poker 2002
$6985 3 $ 500 + 25 No Limit Hold"em
2002 Legends of Poker
$1120 9 $ 1,000 + 60 Omaha Hi/Lo
Hall of Fame Poker Classic 2002
$20300 1 $ 1,000 Pot Limit Hold"em
$14340 3 $ 1,500 No Limit Hold"em
2002 Four Queens Poker Classic
$1310 10 $ 1,000 No Limit Hold"em
3rd Annual 49"er Gold Rush Bonanza
$9000 9 $ 3,000 + 150 No Limit Hold"em - Main WPT Event
2002 United States Poker Championship
$124200 2 $ 7,500 + 100 No Limit Hold"em - Main Event
Crown Australasian Poker Championships - 2003
$5169 4 A$ 2,000 Limit Omaha Hi/Lo
$19665 2 A$ 1,000 Pot Limit Hold"em
The Fourth Annual Jack Binion World Poker Open
$38024 3 $ 1,000 + 60 Pot Limit Hold"em
Euro Finals of Poker 2003
$65899 2 € 3,000 Pot Limit Omaha
2003 Bellagio Five-Star World Poker Classic WPT Championship
$33700 3 $ 1,500 No Limit Hold"em
$4888 18 $ 2,500 No Limit Hold"em
34th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2003
$9080 11 $ 2,000 No Limit Hold"em
$146100 1 $ 1,500 Pot Limit Omaha
$17800 6 $ 5,000 Pot Limit Omaha
$105480 3 $ 3,000 No Limit Hold"em
2003 United States Poker Championship
$223146 2 $ 9,800 + 200 No Limit Hold"em Main Event
2003 Four Queens Poker Classic
$24450 2 $ 1,000 + 70 No Limit Hold"em
2003 Bellagio Five-Diamond World Poker Classic
$9761 7 $ 2,500 + 100 Limit Hold"em
$95059 1 $ 2,500 + 100 Pot Limit Omaha
$17458 19 $ 10,000 + 200 WPT No Limit Hold"em Championship
35th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2004
$2520 39 $ 1,500 Limit Hold"em
$5740 20 $ 1,500 No-Limit Hold"em
$4220 18 $ 2,000 Limit Hold"em
$38740 3 $ 2,000 Omaha Hi-Lo Split
Festa al Lago II
$175347 1 $ 2,500 + 100 No Limit Hold"em
Championship Poker
$12000 9 $ 10,000 No-Limit Hold"em
2004 Plaza Ultimate Poker Challenge
$8000 1 $ 1,000 + 60 No Limit Hold"em
$2700 4 $ 1,000 + 60 No Limit Hold"em
2004 Ultimatebet.com Poker Classic
$8000 53 $ 6,000 + 200 No Limit Hold"em Final Day
2004 Festa al Lago III Poker Tournament
1 $ 3,000 + 100 No Limit Hold"em Final Day
$165000 4 $ 10,000 + 200 The Doyle Brunson North American No Limit Hold"em Poker Championship
2004 World Poker Finals
$92338 12 $ 10,000 + 200 No Limit Hold"em Final Day - WPT
Five-Diamond World Poker Classic
$24444 4 $ 2,500 + 100 Pot Limit Hold"em
$5984 32 $ 3,000 + 100 No Limit Hold"em
2005 L.A. Poker Classic
$77498 9 $ 9,603 + 397 Main Event - No Limit Hold"em Championship
2005 Mirage Poker Showdown
$11146 8 $ 3,000 + 100 No Limit Hold"em
36th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2005
$611795 1 $ 2,000 No Limit Hold"em
$23130 9 $ 2,000 Pot Limit Omaha
$11235 16 $ 5,000 Pot Limit Hold"em
$46530 8 $ 10,000 Pot Limit Omaha
$59545 6 $ 1,500 No Limit Hold"em
Ultimate Poker Challenge
$18300 8 $ 10,000 + 200 Main Event - No Limit Hold"em
2005 Ultimate Poker Classic
$8000 38 $ 5,000 + 200 Championship Event - No Limit Hold"em
2005 World Poker Finals
$20700 31 $ 10,000 + 200 WPT - No Limit Hold"em
2005 Monte Carlo Millions
75 $ 25,000 No Limit Hold"em
2006 WSOP Circuit - Caesars Las Vegas
$27504 12 $ 10,000 Championship Event - No Limit Hold"em
Mandalay Bay Poker Championship
$13440 48 $ 10,000 + 200 WPT Championship Event - No Limit Hold"em
$120,000 Full Tilt Poker Pro Showdown
4 $ 120,000 No Limit Hold"em
37th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2006
$9094 49 $ 1,500 No Limit Hold"em
$2874 128 $ 2,000 No Limit Hold"em
$7106 34 $ 5,000 Pot Limit Hold"em
Poker After Dark
2007 Aussie Millions
$437404 2 A$ 100,000 + 500 $100,000 Hold"em Event
Festa Al Lago V Poker Tournament
$12525 52 $ 10,000 + 300 No Limit Hold"em - Championship Event
Fifth Annual Five Diamond World Poker Classic
$8235 17 $ 5,000 + 180 No Limit Hold"em
$29795 7 $ 5,000 + 180 No Limit Hold"em
Bay 101 Shooting Stars
$30000 27 $ 9,600 + 400 WPT Championship Event - No Limit Hold"em
38th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2007
$5844 40 $ 1,500 No Limit Hold"em - Six Handed
$6757 34 $ 1,500 No Limit Hold"em - Shootout
$6429 40 $ 2,500 No Limit Hold"em - Six Handed
$1528 66 $ 1,000 S.H.O.E
$538835 1 $ 5,000 World Championship No Limit 2-7 Draw Lowball
Poker After Dark II
4 $ 20,000 Week 14 - Bracelet Winners
WPT Spanish Championship
$70670 8 € 7,500 + 300 No Limit Hold"em - Championship Event
Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic
$28905 55 $ 15,000 + 400 Doyle Brunson Classic - No Limit Hold"em
2008 Aussie Millions Poker Championship
$879028 2 A$ 10,000 + 500 No Limit Hold"em - Main Event
2008 World Poker Challenge - WPT
$28099 16 $ 7,500 + 200 No Limit Hold"em - Championship Event
Foxwoods Poker Classic 2008
1 $ 9,700 + 300 No Limit Hold"em - WPT Event
39th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2008
$16920 24 $ 5,000 No Limit Hold"em - Shootout
$92825 5 $ 10,000 World Championship Seven Card Stud
$19257 21 $ 1,500 Pot Limit Omaha
$68304 4 $ 1,500 Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo
2008 World Series Of Poker - Europe
$52670 19 £ 10,000 + 350 World Championship No Limit Hold"em
2008 North American Poker Championship
$50340 10 C$ 10,000 + 300 No Limit Hold"em