Erik Seidel Triumphs At Bellagio WPT $100k Event

This year will surely go down as one of the most glorious years in Erik Seidel’s illustrious poker career, after adding yet another tournament title to his incredible tally for 2011.
On this occasion, the 8 times WSOP bracelet winner managed to overcome a field of 29 players, all of whom payed $100k to enter the Super High Roller event at the Bellagio, to eventually take home the $1,092,000 first place prize.
In so doing, Seidel has now earned $5,590,167 from tournaments throughout 2011 and has further consolidated his position atop the All Time Money List on  $15,945,180.
Erik Seidel has now pulled around $1.5 million ahead of nearest rival Daniel Negreanu, helped along by winning 4 major tournaments this year, including the Aussie Millions Super High Roller event in January for $2,472,555.
On his way to victory at yesterdays’ final table in Las Vegas, Seidel had to overcome a tough group of competitors which included such pros as Daniel Negreanu, Erick Lindgren, Sam Trickett, Justin Bonomo, Vivek Rajkumar and Ashton Griffin.
With only five of the nine finalists getting paid, Justin Bonomo was the first player to cash in 5th ($224,160) followed by Vivek Rajkumar in 4th ($336,240).
Daniel Negreanu’s tournament then came to an end after being eliminated by Eric “E-Dog” Lindgren in 3rd for a $448,320 pay-day. Negreanu later tweeted:
“Out in 3rd had 44 vs Edog who called with A-6 for 915k more. Pot was about 2.3 mill. Ace flopped, oh well 450k for 3rd doesn’t suck…Going over all the hands I played. Feel really good about all my decisions…I’m seriously going to crush the WSOP.”
It then came to the battle of the Erics to decide who would eventually walk away the Bellagio Super High Roller champion.
Despite being even in chips at the start of heads-up play, Seidel then managed to accumulate around 90% of the chips with the final hand coming after Seidel was dealt Ah-5h to Lindgren’s Jc-3h.
Both players were then all-in on the Ac-4c-2c flop, but no further assistance for Lindgren on the turn or river saw him finish the runner-up for $700,500.
 
Erik Seidel, however, picked up over a million for his impressive efforts and tweeting later about his stunning victory said: “Don’t even know what to say. Thanks everyone for ur tweets. Toughest FT I’ve played. @edogpoker is a fantastic player.”