Erik Seidel became a poker legend when he was immortalized in the cult poker-movie classic, Rounders. Unfortunately, the movie portrays Seidel as a patsy, duped by the legendary Johnny Chan, but the reality is that Seidel has gone on to rival Chan, and any other poker player, in career accomplishments.
Although the World Series of Poker Main Event title has eluded Seidel, he has been able to accumulate 8 other WSOP bracelets for his trophy case. Seidel also has a World Poker Tour Championship and runner-up finishes in the Aussie Millions Championship in 2007 and 2008.
Seidel is one of the founding members of Full Tilt Poker, and like his fellow inductee Dan Harrington is one of the most well-liked poker players amongst his peers. Seidel has always conducted himself with class and dignity at the poker tables, and away from them.
In addition to all of his huge achievements, Seidel can also be considered one of the hard-luck losers in poker history, with a number of runner-up finishes in major poker tournaments –Not as bad as TJ Cloutier, but Seidel is definitely on the list of all-time brides-maids!
Here is a look at Erik Seidel’s major poker accomplishments:
- Over $10 million in career tournament earnings
- Runner-up finish in the 1988 WSOP Main Event
- 8 WSOP Bracelets
- An astonishing 35 WSOP Final Tables
- 60 WSOP cashes
- 2nd place in the 2002 Jack Binion World Poker open
- 2nd place in the 2002 United States Poker Championship
- 2nd place in the 2003 United States Poker Championship
- 2004 Festa al Lago Champion in both June and October
- Three World Poker Tour final tables
- Runner-up in the 2007 Aussie Millions
- Runner-up in the 2008 Aussie Millions
- 2010 Aussie Millions PLO Champion
- 2008 WPT Foxwoods Poker Classic Champion
- Runner-up in the 2010 NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship
(keep in mind that some of the results pre-2003 were before the EPT and WPT, and were considered the biggest poker tournaments at the time)
Seidel began playing poker in his hometown of New York City at the Mayfair Club –one of the most historic poker rooms in America– where he honed his poker schools alongside some of the top poker players of all-time, who all happened to play at the Mayfair Club in the 1980’s: Dan Harrington, Howard Lederer, Steve Zolotow, Paul Magriel, Jay Heimowitz, and Mickey Appleman were all Mayfair regulars, and no doubt contributed to each other’s success. The above group of players boasts 25 WSOP bracelets, with Seidel leading the pack with 8! Fittingly, both Seidel and Harrington were inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame together.
Related Posts
- A Look at 2010 Poker Hall of Fame Inductee Dan Harrington - October 21, 2010
- Harrington, Seidel Inducted into Poker Hall of Fame - October 20, 2010
- Ten Finalists Announced for the 2010 Poker Hall of Fame - September 2, 2010
Written by Steve Ruddock on October 21st, 2010