A Quiet End to the WSOP For Erik Seidel. Or Was It?
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But just ten hours before the Main Event began on Friday, Erik Seidel did something extraordinary. He won his eighth WSOP bracelet in Event #54 ($5,000 No-Limit 2-7 Draw Lowball).
Eight bracelets. That puts him alone in fifth place on the all-time list, behind Phil Hellmuth, Johnny Chan, Doyle Brunson, and Johnny Moss. All four of those men are in the WSOP Hall of Fame.
Even more amazing than the eight bracelets is the fact that so few people are even aware of it. Two days later, even some of the top players are surprised when they hear the news. "Eight bracelets? When did that happen?"
When Doyle Brunson was eliminated from the Main Event on Day 1a, there was an announcement over the loudspeaker. Players and fans applauded as the Babe Ruth of our game exited from the biggest event of the year.
When Allen Cunningham won his fifth WSOP bracelet early in the Series, ESPN was there asking him when he would reach the magic number (at the time) of ten.
When Phil Hellmuth won his record-setting eleventh bracelet, even the sequestered Bluff tent couldn't contain him. Even though his victory didn't come on the ESPN table, there was a special ceremony on the ESPN stage where Johnny Chan and Doyle Brunson presented him with the historic bracelet.
When Erik Seidel won his eighth bracelet, there was ... nothing. A few photographers, a few hardy spectators, and me, who had just reported every single hand from his final table. There was no commissioner, no video camera, and no bracelet ceremony. (Unless you count the TD handing him the bracelet and saying, "Here's your bracelet, Erik.")
In an era when some players become famous for their self-promotion, crazy antics, or rude trash talk, it's refreshing to watch Seidel quietly go about his business under the radar.
Eight bracelets. That's three more than Ivey and Cunningham, and five more than Negreanu. He may not be as young as they are, but he still has a very long career ahead him. Ten bracelets for Seidel is not a question of if, it's a question of when, and how soon.
Congratulations, Erik Seidel, on quietly pursuing history.