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Erik Seidel

Name: Erik Seidel
Nickname: Sly
Country: United States
City: Las Vegas, Nevada
Poker Room: Full Tilt Poker
Total winnings: $ 16,011,752
Cashes: 184
First place Finishes: 27

Biography

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 York’s 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 wasn’t 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 crashes and Seidel lost his job. Luckily, he still had 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 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. 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 to give him a total of eight bracelets. But the WSOP isn’t 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 placed second at the Aussie Millions Championship, but came right back a few months later to take down the Foxwoods Poker Classic WPT Event for almost $1 million.

Erik Seidel is recognized as one of the best tournament players around. He’s a quiet individual, but as you can see his accolades speak very loudly of him. Seidel is also a Full Tilt Poker sponsored player.

Tournaments and Winnings

Tournament	Place	Winnings
42nd World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2011
$ 5,000 Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo	33^rd	$10,091
$ 1,500 Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo	58^th	$4,188
$ 10,000 Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo Championship	13^th	$32,057
$ 5,000 No Limit Hold'em - Shootout	17^th	$13,368
$ 1,500 Limit Omaha Hi/Lo	32^nd	$6,868
Ninth Annual Five Star World Poker Classic
$ 100,000 Super High Roller Event - No Limit Hold'em	1^st	$1,092,780
2011 Hollywood Poker Open
$ 9,600 No Limit Hold'em - Main Event	2^nd	$155,103
NBC National Heads-Up Championship 2011
$ 25,000 No Limit Hold'em	1^st	$750,000
2011 L.A. Poker Classic
$ 25,100 High Roller Event	1^st	$144,570
$ 5,100 Heads-Up Championship	5^th	$14,500
2011 Aussie Millions Poker Championship
A$ 250,000 Super High Roller No Limit Hold'em	1^st	2,500,000 AUD
A$ 100,000 No Limit Hold'em	3^rd	625,000 AUD
PokerStars Caribbean Adventure
$ 25,000 No Limit Hold'em - High Roller Event	4^th	$295,960
$ 5,000 No Limit Hold'em - 6 Max	3^rd	$46,560
FullTiltPoker.com - Doubles Poker Championship
$ 50,000 No Limit Hold'em - Qualifying Match 8	1^st	$5,000
FullTiltPoker.com Poker Million IX
Runners-Up Heat	3^rd
Heat 3	2^nd
41st World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2010
$ 5,000 Ante Up For Africa Charity Event	5^th	$29,926
$ 5,000 Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo 8	5^th	$85,800
$ 10,000 No Limit 2-7 Draw Lowball Championships	6^th	$41,270
$ 1,500 No Limit 2-7 Draw Lowball	14^th	$4,404
NBC National Heads-Up Championship 2010
$ 20,000 No Limit Hold'em	2^nd	$250,000
2010 L.A. Poker Classic
$ 5,100 No Limit Hold'em	10^th	$9,460
2010 Aussie Millions Poker Championship
A$ 10,000 Pot Limit Omaha	1^st	120,000 AUD
2009 Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic
$ 5,000 H.O.R.S.E.	4^th	$21,049
Late Night Poker 2009
Heat B	7^th
Bellagio Cup V
$ 15,000 No Limit Hold'em - Championship Event	6^th	$164,640
40th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2009
$ 5,000 Ante Up For Africa Charity Event	4^th	$51,601
$ 50,000 World Championship H.O.R.S.E.	8^th	$162,381
$ 10,000 World Championship Pot Limit Hold'em	19^th	$24,066
$ 1,500 Pot Limit Hold'em	7^th	$24,919
$ 5,000 No Limit Hold'em	22^nd	$21,026
2008 North American Poker Championship
C$ 10,000 No Limit Hold'em	10^th	56,868 CAD
2008 World Series Of Poker - Europe
£ 10,000 World Championship No Limit Hold'em	19^th	£28,960
39th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2008
$ 1,500 Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo	4^th	$68,304
$ 1,500 Pot Limit Omaha	21^st	$19,257
$ 10,000 World Championship Seven Card Stud	5^th	$92,825
$ 5,000 No Limit Hold'em - Shootout	24^th	$16,920
Foxwoods Poker Classic 2008
$ 9,700 No Limit Hold'em - WPT Event	1^st	$992,890
2008 World Poker Challenge - WPT
$ 7,500 No Limit Hold'em - Championship Event	16^th	$28,099
2008 Aussie Millions Poker Championship
A$ 10,000 No Limit Hold'em - Main Event	2^nd	1,000,000 AUD
2007 Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic
$ 15,000 Doyle Brunson Classic - No Limit Hold'em	55^th	$28,905
WPT Spanish Championship
€ 7,500 No Limit Hold'em - Championship Event	8^th	€50,300
38th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2007
$ 5,000 World Championship No Limit 2-7 Draw Lowball	1^st	$538,835
$ 1,000 S.H.O.E	66^th	$1,528
$ 2,500 No Limit Hold'em - Six Handed	40^th	$6,429
$ 1,500 No Limit Hold'em - Shootout	34^th	$6,757
$ 1,500 No Limit Hold'em - Six Handed	40^th	$5,844
Poker After Dark II
$ 20,000 Week 14 - Bracelet Winners	4^th
Bay 101 Shooting Stars
$ 9,600 WPT Championship Event - No Limit Hold'em	27^th	$30,000
2007 Aussie Millions
A$ 100,000 $100,000 Hold'em Event	2^nd	550,000 AUD
Poker After Dark
$ 20,000 Week 5	5^th
Fifth Annual Five Diamond World Poker Classic
$ 5,000 No Limit Hold'em	7^th	$29,795
$ 5,000 No Limit Hold'em	17^th	$8,235
Festa Al Lago V Poker Tournament
$ 10,000 No Limit Hold'em - Championship Event	52^nd	$12,525
37th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2006
$ 5,000 Pot Limit Hold'em	34^th	$7,106
$ 2,000 No Limit Hold'em	128^th	$2,874
$ 1,500 No Limit Hold'em	49^th	$9,094
$120,000 Full Tilt Poker Pro Showdown
$ 120,000 No Limit Hold'em	4^th
Mandalay Bay Poker Championship
$ 10,000 WPT Championship Event - No Limit Hold'em	48^th	$13,440
2006 WSOP Circuit - Caesars Las Vegas
$ 10,000 Championship Event - No Limit Hold'em	12^th	$27,504
2006 Borgata Winter Open - WPT
$ 9,700 WPT Championship Event - No Limit Hold'em	33^rd	$14,783
2005 Monte Carlo Millions
$ 25,000 No Limit Hold'em	75^th
2005 World Poker Finals
$ 10,000 WPT - No Limit Hold'em	31^st	$20,700
2005 Ultimate Poker Classic
$ 5,000 Championship Event - No Limit Hold'em	38^th	$8,000
Ultimate Poker Challenge
$ 10,000 Main Event - No Limit Hold'em	8^th	$18,300
36th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2005
$ 1,500 No Limit Hold'em	6^th	$59,545
$ 10,000 Pot Limit Omaha	8^th	$46,530
$ 5,000 Pot Limit Hold'em	16^th	$11,235
$ 2,000 Pot Limit Omaha	9^th	$23,130
$ 2,000 No Limit Hold'em	1^st	$611,795
2005 Mirage Poker Showdown
$ 3,000 No Limit Hold'em	8^th	$11,146
2005 L.A. Poker Classic
$ 9,603 Main Event - No Limit Hold'em Championship	9^th	$77,498
Five-Diamond World Poker Classic
$ 3,000 No Limit Hold'em	32^nd	$5,984
$ 2,500 Pot Limit Hold'em	4^th	$24,444
2004 World Poker Finals
$ 10,000 No Limit Hold'em Final Day - WPT	12^th	$92,338
2004 Festa al Lago III Poker Tournament
$ 10,000 The Doyle Brunson North American No Limit Hold'em Poker Championship	4^th	$165,000
$ 3,000 No Limit Hold'em Final Day	1^st	$217,839
2004 Ultimatebet.com Poker Classic
$ 6,000 No Limit Hold'em Final Day	53^rd	$8,000
2004 Plaza Ultimate Poker Challenge
$ 1,000 No Limit Hold'em	4^th	$2,700
$ 1,000 No Limit Hold'em	1^st	$8,000
Championship Poker
$ 10,000 No-Limit Hold'em	9^th	$12,000
Festa al Lago II
$ 2,500 No Limit Hold'em	1^st	$175,347
35th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2004
$ 2,000 Omaha Hi-Lo Split	3^rd	$38,740
$ 2,000 Limit Hold'em	18^th	$4,220
$ 1,500 No-Limit Hold'em	20^th	$5,740
$ 1,500 Limit Hold'em	39^th	$2,520
2003 Bellagio Five-Diamond World Poker Classic
$ 10,000 WPT No Limit Hold'em Championship	19^th	$17,458
$ 2,500 Pot Limit Omaha	1^st	$95,059
$ 2,500 Limit Hold'em	7^th	$9,761
2003 Four Queens Poker Classic
$ 1,000 No Limit Hold'em	2^nd	$24,450
2003 United States Poker Championship
$ 9,800 No Limit Hold'em Main Event	2^nd	$223,146
34th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2003
$ 3,000 No Limit Hold'em	3^rd	$105,480
$ 5,000 Pot Limit Omaha	6^th	$17,800
$ 1,500 Pot Limit Omaha	1^st	$146,100
$ 2,000 No Limit Hold'em	11^th	$9,080
2003 Bellagio Five-Star World Poker Classic WPT Championship
$ 2,500 No Limit Hold'em	18^th	$4,888
$ 1,500 No Limit Hold'em	3^rd	$33,700
Euro Finals of Poker 2003
€ 3,000 Pot Limit Omaha	2^nd	€61,220
The Fourth Annual Jack Binion World Poker Open
$ 1,000 Pot Limit Hold'em	3^rd	$38,024
Crown Australasian Poker Championships - 2003
A$ 1,000 Pot Limit Hold'em	2^nd	35,000 AUD
A$ 2,000 Limit Omaha Hi/Lo	4^th	9,200 AUD
2002 United States Poker Championship
$ 7,500 No Limit Hold'em - Main Event	2^nd	$124,200
3rd Annual 49'er Gold Rush Bonanza
$ 3,000 No Limit Hold'em - Main WPT Event	9^th	$9,000
2002 Four Queens Poker Classic
$ 1,000 No Limit Hold'em	10^th	$1,310
Hall of Fame Poker Classic 2002
$ 1,500 No Limit Hold'em	3^rd	$14,340
$ 1,000 Pot Limit Hold'em	1^st	$20,300
2002 Legends of Poker
$ 1,000 Omaha Hi/Lo	9^th	$1,120
Grand Slam of Poker 2002
$ 500 No Limit Hold'em	3^rd	$6,985
33rd World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2002
$ 1,500 No Limit Hold'em	11^th	$8,180
$ 2,000 Pot Limit Hold'em	3^rd	$38,580
Bellagio High Buy-in Tournament Series
$ 2,500 Pot Limit Hold'em	4^th	$6,063
$ 3,100 Mixed Games (Stud/Omaha 8/Limit Hold'em/No Limit Hold'em)	1^st	$45,832
2002 L.A. Poker Classic
$ 1,000 Pot Limit Hold'em	5^th	$6,320
$ 1,000 Omaha Hi/Lo	17^th	$1,476
$ 1,000 No Limit Hold'em	4^th	$12,900
The Third Annual Jack Binion World Poker Open
$ 10,000 No Limit Texas Hold'em Championship	2^nd	$258,020
$ 1,000 Pot Limit Texas Hold'em	15^th	$1,398
2001 Four Queens Poker Classic
$ 5,000 No Limit Hold'em Championship Event	8^th	$9,094
$ 500 Pot Limit Hold'em	5^th	$2,400
Linda Johnson Celebrity Challenge 2001
$ 10 No Limit Hold'em - Alex Brenes Challenge	7^th	$985
32nd World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2001
$ 3,000 Texas Hold'em (no limit)	1^st	$411,300
$ 3,000 Texas Hold'em (pot limit)	4^th	$39,460
$ 1,500 Omaha (pot limit)	10^th	$5,010
2000 United States Poker Championship
$ 7,500 No Limit Hold'em Championship	18^th	$3,975
Poker Million 2000
£ 250 Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Lo	8^th	£1,338
2000 Legends of Poker
$ 1,000 No Limit Hold'em	5^th	$4,680
Global Pot Limit No Limit Open
$ 300 Pot Limit Omaha	5^th	$555
31st World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2000
$ 1,500 Pot Limit Omaha	17^th	$4,485
The First Annual Jack Binion World Poker Open
$ 5,000 No Limit Hold'em Championship	10^th	$7,159
$ 1,000 Pot Limit Omaha	3^rd	$22,931
$ 500 No Limit Hold'em	10^th	$1,266
1999 United States Poker Championship
$ 1,000 Omaha Hi-Lo Split	5^th	$3,685
California State Poker Championship 1999
$ 300 Omaha Hi-Lo Split	7^th	$1,232
30th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1999
$ 10,000 No Limit Hold'em World Championship	4^th	$279,500
$ 5,000 Limit Hold'em	17^th	$5,500
Euro Finals of Poker 1999
FF 3,000 No Limit Hold'em	6^th	13,100 FRF
1998 United States Poker Championship
$ 1,000 No Limit Hold'em	6^th	$3,690
29th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1998
$ 3,000 No Limit Hold'em	4^th	$43,560
$ 5,000 Deuce to Seven Draw	1^st	$132,750
$ 3,000 Hold'em Pot Limit	17^th	$5,160
$ 2,500 Omaha Pot Limit	3^rd	$40,800
1998 Four Queens Poker Classic
$ 500 Limit Hold'em Shootout	1^st	$16,400
International Pot-Limit Rendezvous
$ 2,000 Pot Limit Hold'em	1^st	$16,000
1997 Legends Of Poker
$ 2,500 No Limit Hold'em	1^st	$39,375
28th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1997
$ 5,000 Limit Hold'em	3^rd	$56,000
$ 3,000 Limit Hold'em	5^th	$28,950
$ 2,000 Limit Hold'em	4^th	$70,720
1997 Four Queens Poker Classic
$ 1,000 Pot Limit Omaha	9^th	$2,905
1996 Four Queens Poker Classic
$ 5,085 No Limit Hold'em - Championship Finals	5^th	$15,400
1996 Legends of Poker
$ 2,500 No Limit Hold'em	4^th	$10,750
Grosvenor European Open Championships
£ 1,500 No Limit Hold'em Main Event	4^th	£10,400
27th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1996
$ 2,500 Omaha Pot Limit	6^th	$16,313
$ 1,500 Omaha Pot Limit	14^th	$4,215
Amarillo Slim's Superbowl of Poker
$ 1,000 No Limit Hold'em	2^nd	$13,110
1995 Four Queens Poker Classic
$ 5,000 No Limit Hold'em	4^th	$37,100
$ 1,000 Pot Limit Omaha	1^st	$60,000
1995 Legends of Poker
$ 5,000 No Limit Hold'em - Championship Event	5^th	$15,400
$ 1,000 No Limit Hold'em	5^th	$9,075
$ 1,000 Limit Hold'em	6^th	$5,715
26th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1995
$ 10,000 No Limit Hold'em World Championship	151^st
$ 2,500 Limit Hold'em	7^th	$11,625
Aviation Club de France - Opening Festival
FF 5,000 Pot Limit Hold'em	7^th	5,000 FRF
LA Poker Classic IV
$ 1,000 Pot Limit Omaha	3^rd	$15,450
Queens Poker Classic V
$ 500 Pot Limit Hold'em	6^th	$8,010
1994 World Poker Finals
$ 2,000 Limit Hold'em	5^th	$7,420
$ 2,000 No Limit Hold'em	3^rd	$7,800
Hall of Fame Poker Classic 1994
$ 1,500 Chinese Poker	2^nd	$9,000
Queens Poker Classic Summer Edition
$ 2,500 No Limit Hold'em	3^rd	$32,000
10th Annual Diamond Jim Brady
$ 1,000 No Limit Hold'em	1^st	$75,600
25th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1994
$ 5,000 Limit Hold'em	1^st	$210,000
$ 2,500 Limit Hold'em	14^th	$5,300
$ 1,500 Pot Limit Hold'em	6^th	$12,968
Queens Poker Classic IV
$ 500 Limit Hold'em	12^th	$1,618
$ 1,000 Pot Limit Hold'em	8^th	$2,520
1993 World Poker Finals
$ 2,000 Limit Hold'em	5^th	$4,400
24th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1993
$ 2,500 Limit Hold'em	15^th	$3,725
$ 2,500 Omaha 8 or Better	1^st	$94,000
$ 1,500 Hold'em Pot Limit	15^th	$3,060
1993 L.A. Poker Classic
$ 5,000 No Limit Hold'em - Championship Event	4^th	$22,500
Queens Poker Classic III
$ 500 No Limit Hold'em	2^nd	$36,000
Hall of Fame Poker Classic 1992
$ 1,500 Pot Limit Hold'em	17^th	$1,380
23rd World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1992
$ 2,500 Limit Hold'em	1^st	$168,000
Queens Poker Classic II
$ 5,000 No Limit Hold'em	2^nd	$100,000
$ 1,000 Pot Limit Hold'em	16^th	$1,016
Hall Of Fame Poker Classic 1991
$ 1,500 No Limit Hold'em	7^th	$7,125
$ 1,500 Pot Limit Omaha	9^th	$2,340
22nd World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1991
$ 5,000 Limit Hold'em	2^nd	$105,000
Hall Of Fame Poker Classic 1990
$ 2,000 Limit Hold'em	4^th	$23,010
Hall of Fame Poker Classic 1989
$ 5,000 Championship Event - No Limit Hold'em	8^th	$11,600
4th Annual Diamond Jim Brady
$ 1,000 No Limit Hold'em	1^st	$144,000
19th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1988
$ 10,000 No Limit Hold'em World Championship	2^nd	$280,000

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