Erik Seidel Reigns Supreme with Tenth Bracelet Win at WSOP Paradise in the Bahamas

Poker icon Erik Seidel joined Phil Hellmuth, Johnny Chan, Phil Ivey, and Doyle Brunson as the only players with at least 10 WSOP bracelets with his latest win at the WSOP Paradise in the Bahamas.

American pro and Hall of Famer Erik Seidel joined an exclusive club when he won his tenth World Series of Poker bracelet during the inaugural WSOP Paradise in the Bahamas. Seidel was the last player standing in 2023 WSOP Paradise Event No. 7 $50,000 Super High Roller. He banked $1,704,400 for the victory and added a tenth bracelet to his collection.

Phil Hellmuth holds the record with 17 WSOP bracelets. With 10 bracelets, Seidel is now tied with Johnny Chan, Phil Ivey, and Doyle Brunson for second overall.


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Glory Days in the 1990s

Seidel came close to winning his first bracelet at the 1988 WSOP Main Event. He finished in second place behind Johnny Chan, who secured back-to-back Main Event championships. Chan trapped Seidel in the final hand, which had become a part of pop culture lore when the heads-up battle was featured in the 1998 cult-classic film “Rounders.”

Seidel won his first bracelet at the 1992 WSOP at Binion’s Horseshoe Casino in downtown Las Vegas. He outlasted 168 entrants in $2,500 Limit Hold’em, and defeated Hellmuth heads-up to win $168,000 and his first bracelet.

At the 1993 WSOP, Seidel won his second bracelet. He outlasted 94 players in $2,500 Omaha Hi/Lo and earned $94,000 for that victory.

Seidel won bracelets in three straight years at the start of his career. He took down the $5,000 Limit Hold’em bracelet at the 1994 WSOP, which paid out $210,000 after he bested a field of 105 runners.

Seidel won a fourth bracelet at the 1998 WSOP. He prevailed in $5,000 Deuce to Seven Draw, which paid out $132,700. That final table included Doyle Brunson, who finished in third place.

Post-Rounders and Poker Boom

At the start of the new century, Seidel won bracelets in odd years with victories in 2001, 2003, 2005, and 2007.

Seifel won a fifth bracelet, and his first in no-limit hold’em at the 2001 WSOP. He shipped $3,000 NL Hold’em, which attracted 382 runners. He banked $411,300 and defeated Chan heads-up for the victory, which was a bit of sweet revenge after Chan defeated Seidel at the 1988 WSOP Main Event.

At the 2003 WSOP, Seidel won his sixth bracelet in $1,500 PLO with Rebuys. He beat Men “The Master” Nguyen heads-up to win $146,100.

The WSOP relocated to the Rio Casino in 2005, where Seidel won his seventh bracelet. Seidel was the last player standing in $2,000 NL Hold’em, and he defeated Cyndy Violette heads-up to win $611,795. At the time, it marked his largest cash to date compared to his first six bracelet victories.

At the 2007 WSOP, Seidel won his eighth bracelet with a clutch victory in $5,000 NL Deuce to Seven Draw Lowball. He edged out Chad Brown heads up to win $538,835, and that tough final table also included Freddy Deeb and Todd Brunson.


World Series of Poker Official - YouTube

At WSOP.com new players get $50 Free Play just for signing up. Unlock the first $25 in freeplay, then unlock the next $25 in freeplay by making your first deposit. Start reaping the benefits of joining the No. 1 real money poker site in the world.


Ending 14-Year the Drought in 2021

Seidel went 14 years between bracelet wins and was stuck on No. 8. He final tabled multiple WSOP events between 2008 and 2010, but missed out on his ninth bracelet over the next decade.

Seidel finally broke through with a victory on the virtual felt at the 2021 WSOP Online. He won the $10,000 Super Million$ High Roller at GGPoker. He banked $977,842 and finally captured bracelet No. 9.

Seidel only had to wait two more years before he joined the exclusive ten-timers club when the WSOP expanded to the Bahamas with the first WSOP Paradise at the Atlantis Resort.

WSOP Paradise Event #7 $50,000 Super High Roller NL attracted 137 entries. The prize pool was $6.85 million with just 21 payouts. Seidel outlasted a dangerous final table that included Jason Koon, Alex Foxen, Jonathan Jaffe, Adrian Mateos, Tim Adams, and Orpen Kisacikoglu.

Seidel defeated cash-game specialist Seth Gottlieb heads-up for the Super High Roller victory. He won $1.7 million in cash and added bracelet #10 to his collection.

Seidel’s Earnings Top $45.5 Million

After his latest victory at the WSOP Paradise, Seidel passed $45.5 million in career tournament earnings. He’s currently ranked No. 7 in the world according to Hendon Mob after sliding ahead of Isaac Haxton with $45.4 million. Seidel is currently fifth overall on the all-time USA money list.

American pro Bryn Kenney tops Hendon Mob’s all-time money list with $65 million in winnings, followed by Justin Bonomo ($62.9 million), British pro Stephen Chidwick ($54.5 million), Jason Koon ($53.2 million), Daniel Negreanu ($51.6 million), and Dan Smith ($45.5 million).

Seidel banked over $3.3 million in tournaments during 2023. Aside from 2020 and 2021 during the pandemic, Seidel has won at least seven figures in tournaments every year since 2013.


World Series of Poker Official - YouTube

At WSOP.com new players get $50 Free Play just for signing up. Unlock the first $25 in freeplay, then unlock the next $25 in freeplay by making your first deposit. Start reaping the benefits of joining the No. 1 real money poker site in the world.


 

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