Pope Seidel VIII

By Pauly
Los Angeles, CA


Chris Moneymaker vs. Erik Seidel
Photo by Flipchip
Erik Seidel beat Chris Moneymaker in the finals to secure the 2011 Heads-Up Championship. Too bad for Moneymaker. As soon as he made a run in a televised event with a rare shot to prove that he wasn't a one-hit wonder -- he ran into the hottest player on the circuit, Erik Seidel.

Seidel embarked upon one of the most epic streaks since the inception of "run good" into poker's every day vernacular.

Let's recap...

Paradise Island, Bahamas - 4th Place, PCA $25K High Rollers

Melbourne, Australia - 3rd Place, Aussie Millions $100K (AUD) High Roller

Melbourne, Australia - 1st Place, Aussie Millions $250K (AUD) Super High Roller

Los Angeles, CA - 1st Place, LA Poker Classic $25K High Rollers

Las Vegas, NV - 1st Place, NBC National Heads-Up Championship

Erik Seidel - 2011 NBC Heads-Up Champion
Photo by Flipchip
So, what's next for Seidel? When will his run good strike next? It seems as though the next step is a bracelet (or three) at the 2011 WSOP. In 2008, I made a prop bet with one of my colleagues that Erik Seidel was going to become the next player to join the 10 bracelets club...before the end of the Mayan calender. He's got this summer and next to do it.

I have faith that one of two things will happen by December 21, 2012 -- Seidel will have won ten bracelets, or the end of the world is nigh.

By the way... for all of you stat geeks and those who love a good ole juicy controversy over petty things like which events should be included in All-Time Money winners, with a $750,000 score at the NBC HUC, Erik Seidel may...or may not...be at the top of Hendon Mob's list in career earnings. I'm waiting for the Vatican to update their standings before I made an official announcement.

At this point, Erik Seidel has become bigger than the pontiff and transformed into the mythical Midas. All I want to know is...which team is Seidel going to pick to win in his March Madness bracket? I'm gonna bet my entire sportsbetting roll on it.

Erik Seidel: Master of His Domain

By Pauly
Los Angeles, CA

Erik Seidel is not just running good...he's en feugo.

It appeared that the peak of Seidel's run good occurred during a two week stretch in January when he won over $3.4 million. Ah, but that wasn't the case. Seidel's fortuitous run continued when he shipped the High Roller event at the L.A. Poker Classic.

It's been an auspicious 2011 for Seidel. His magical mystery tour began in the Bahamas, continued through Oz, and spilled over into Los Angeles...

- Seidel took 4th place in the $25,000 High Rollers event at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure.

- Seidel then flew to Melbourne, Australia to play in the Aussie Millions. He played in the $100,000 (Aussie Bucks) High Roller event and finished in 3rd place.

- During the highly controversial $250,000 (AUD) Super High Roller Event, Seidel smoked the field and finished in first place winning $2.5 million AUD. At the time, the Australian Dollar was almost on par with the USD.

- On the last day of February, Seidel won the LAPC $25,000 High Rollers Event at the at Commerce Casino. Even though Seidel negotiated a three-way deal with Elky and Darren Elias, he still pulled out the victory.

Here's Seidel's winner's interview with Matt Savage...


What's next for Seidel? Supremacy in the NBC Heads-Up Championship? High Roller events at the EPT Grand Finale in Madrid? Will his run good be extended into this summer? How many bracelets will he win? Or will Seidel struggle with much bigger fields at the WSOP?

One thing is for sure, Seidel is hot.I'd love to know who he picks for March Madness this year.