Event #7: $50,000 Super High Roller
Day 2 Completed
2023 WSOP Paradise
Event #7: $50,000 Super High Roller
Day: 2
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 2
2023 WSOP Paradise
Buy-in
$50,000
Prize Pool
$6,850,000
Entries
137
Level
21
Blinds
200,000 / 400,000
Ante
400,000
Entries
17
Players Left
1
Level 21
: Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante
It's a special day in The Bahamas as Poker Hall of Famer Erik Seidel won his tenth bracelet by taking down Event #7: $50,000 Super High Roller at 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Paradise for $1,704,400, the biggest WSOP score of his illustrious career.
Seidel, whose first bracelet dates back more than three decades from a victory in Event #4: $2,500 Limit Hold'em in 1992 when the World Series was held at Binion's Horseshoe, joins an elite club of players with ten bracelets that includes Phil Ivey, Johnny Chan and the late Doyle Brunson. The only player with more bracelets is Phil Hellmuth with 17.
“It really is nice to get to double digits," Seidel told PokerNews in a winner's interview. "Any time you win a bracelet is just an incredibly special thing. To get to ten, I don’t know, it’s a beautiful feeling. It’s just so nice when things go well like this.”
The Super High Roller event attracted 137 entries in total to create a prize pool of $6,850,000 with 21 players who cashed. Seidel topped a powerhouse final table that included Alex Foxen, Jason Koon, Jonathan Jaffe and Adrian Mateos.
$50,000 Super High Roller Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Erik Seidel | United States | $1,704,400 |
| 2 | Seth Gottlieb | United States | $1,052,800 |
| 3 | Orpen Kisacikoglu | Turkey | $778,300 |
| 4 | Jason Koon | United States | $582,100 |
| 5 | Koichi Chiba | Japan | $440,500 |
| 6 | Alex Foxen | United States | $337,300 |
| 7 | Jonathan Jaffe | United States | $261,400 |
| 8 | Adrian Mateos | Spain | $205,000 |
"I Love the Game"
While Seidel won an online bracelet in 2021 in GGPoker Event #11: Super MILLION$ High Roller NLH, a victory that brought him $977,842, his win at Atlantis Resort marked the Hall of Famer's first live bracelet victory in 16 years.
When asked what it took to take down the Super High Roller event, Seidel told PokerNews "it takes a lot of luck, it takes everything going your way."
"You just hope that when you’re in a spot like this you run well and the cards cooperate," he said with a giant grin, "and they did today.”
Seidel's first WSOP cash dates back to 1988, when he finished runner-up to Chan in the Main Event in a clip memorialized in the poker classic Rounders. Still, he manages to not only compete against, but sometimes get the best of, today's elite high-stakes grinders.
"I’m still trying to keep up with these guys," he said. "I’m talking to people, working hard and playing ... Part of it is just I love the game. I love to wake up and play, so hopefully I can keep that enthusiasm.”
Erik Seidel's WSOP Bracelet Wins
| YEAR | EVENT | PRIZE (IN USD) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Event #7: Super High Roller No-Limit Hold'em | $1,704,400 | |
| 2021 | GGPoker Event #11: Super MILLION$ High Roller NLH | $977,842 | |
| 2007 | Event #54: $5,000 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw Championship | $538,835 | |
| 2005 | Event #9: $2,000 No-Limit Hold'em | $611,795 | |
| 2003 | Event #8: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha | $146,100 | |
| 2001 | Event #22: $3,000 No-Limit Hold'em | $411,300 | |
| 1998 | Event #16: $5,000 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw | $132,750 | |
| 1994 | Event #2: $5,000 Limit Hold'em | $210,000 | |
| 1993 | Event #3: $2,500 Limit Omaha Hi-Lo | $94,000 | |
| 1992 | Event #4: $2,500 Limit Hold'em | $168,000 |
Besting A "Dangerous" Opponent
Seidel was second in chips of the 17 players who returned to Day 2, behind only Seth Gottlieb, a lesser-known face on the high-stakes tournament circuit who primarily plays cash but still had $1.4 million in live earnings headed into the Super High Roller event. It was fitting, then, that the two made it to heads-up play as the New Jersey native tried to overcome the old-school legend sitting across the table.
“Seth is a really dangerous player," said Seidel. "He plays high-stakes cash, he understands the game, he’s had a lot of success. He kind of came out of nowhere but he’s been doing well the last few years playing cash and playing tournaments. He’s no amateur. He’s a very dangerous person to play (against) and he puts you under pressure.”
The third-place of Orpen Kisacikoglu, who was down to a single big blind on Day 1 before spinning it up to a $778,300 payday, set up a brief heads-up battle that Seidel entered with a sizable chip lead after his king-ten pipped the Turk's king-nine.
That heads-up battle almost ended in a few hands as Seidel open-jammed with queen-ten and was called by Gottlieb with ace-jack. A ten-high flop gave Seidel the lead before running Wheel cards gave Gottlieb a straight to even things out against the Poker Hall of Famer.
The double-up proved futile as the duo got to the river in a two pair versus straight cooler that saw all the chips getting in the middle. Seidel held the nuts with nine-seven, just a few pips off of the cards Chan held when he made a straight to win the 1988 Main Event.
In addition to the seven-figure score, Seidel picked up a nice $25,000 bonus from GGPoker after making his third WSOP final table of the year.
That wraps up PokerNews' coverage of a historic $50,000 Super High Roller at WSOP Paradise. There's still plenty of action to take place here at Atlantis Resort, so be sure to check out the live reporting portal for additional coverage.
Level 21
: Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante
While the main focus of the WSOP Paradise series will be on chasing gold bracelets, there are plenty of activities and sights worth checking out in the Bahamas after busting out of a tournament.
All the poker action will take place at the Atlantis Paradise Island resort, with plenty of viable options to drink and dine. The hotel has plenty of fine dining and casual dining options, along with a buffet. Hotel guests can even purchase an all-inclusive package for what is mostly unlimited drinks and grub throughout their stay.
Atlantis has a little something for everyone when it comes to food. There's a sushi bar, sports bar, ice cream shop, buffet, cafe, steakhouse, deli, snack bar, Starbucks, seafood restaurant, burger joint, and multiple other fine dining establishments. The numerous food choices make it convenient on dinner breaks during tournaments or on non-poker days.
Level 21
: Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante
Erik Seidel limped in on the button and Seth Gottlieb opted to check.
They both checked through the Q?K?6? flop to the 5? on the turn. Gottlieb bet 700,000 for Seidel to make the call.
The 8? completed the board and Gottlieb continued with a bet of 2,800,000. Erik asked how much Gottlieb had behind and he replied that he had about 14 million. Seidel nodded and then raised it up to 9,500,000. Gottlieb responded with a shove and Seidel snap-called.
"You got it?" Gottlieb asked Seidel who tabled the 9?7? for the rivered straight.
"Yeah, you got it!" Gottlieb responded and then showed he held the K?6? for the flopped two pair.
Gottlieb cashes for $1,052,800 for finishing as the runner-up while Seidel claims his tenth bracelet, the first-place prize of $1,704,400, and a $25,000 bonus due to the WSOP Paradise Parlay promotion.
A recap is to follow.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
41,000,000
17,000,000
|
17,000,000 |
|
||
|
Busted | |
|
||
Level 21
: Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante
Erik Seidel open-jammed on the button and Seth Gottlieb called off in the big blind with around 8,000,000.
Seth Gottlieb: A?J?
Erik Seidel: Q?10?
Seidel took the lead on the flop of 3?5?10?, though the 4? turn gave Gottlieb additional outs with a Wheel draw. The river then brought the 2? to keep Gottlieb alive as he doubled up.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
24,000,000
-8,600,000
|
-8,600,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
17,000,000
8,600,000
|
8,600,000 |
|
|
||
Level 21
: Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante
Seth Gottlieb limped in on the button and Erik Seidel opted to check.
The flop came 7?10?3?, Seidel check-called the 600,000 bet of Gottlieb.
The turn was the 2? and Seidel checked again. This time, Gottlieb fired a bet of 1,700,000 out and Seidel called again.
The 7? completed the board and Seidel checked for the final time. Gottlieb barreled a bet of 3,600,000 over the line. Seidel sat up, stared at the board, used a time bank card, and then flicked in a chip for the call. Gottlieb tabled the 8?6? for Seidel to show the 10?8? for two pair, the pot, and a bigger chip lead.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
32,600,000
6,600,000
|
6,600,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
8,400,000
-6,600,000
|
-6,600,000 |
|
|
||
Level 21
: Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante
Orpen Kisacikoglu opened to 2,800,000 on the button and Erik Seidel three-bet in the big blind to put his opponent all in. Kisacikoglu called off.
Orpen Kisacikoglu: K?9?
Erik Seidel: K?10?
Kisacikoglu was pipped and got no help as the runout of 3?J?7?2?A? confirmed his elimination in third place.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
26,000,000
7,000,000
|
7,000,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
15,000,000
-850,000
|
-850,000 |
|
|
||
|
Busted | |
|
||
Level 21
: Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante
Seth Gottlieb raised to 900,000 from the button and Orpen Kisacikoglu shoved from the big blind for Gottlieb to make the call for the 7,625,000 he had behind.
Seth Gottlieb: A?9?
Orpen Kisacikoglu: K?Q?
The flop came 2?10?K? for Kisacikoglu to hit top pair.
The turn was the Q? for Kisacikoglu to hit two pair but for Gottlieb to ask the dealer for a jack to stay alive.
The dealer burned a card and then revealed the J? for Gottlieb to double up as he had just hit Broadway.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
15,850,000
9,550,000
|
9,550,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
7,300,000
-3,200,000
|
-3,200,000 |
|
|
||
Level 21
: Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante
Orpen Kisacikoglu opened to 800,000 on the button and Erik Seidel defended in the big blind.
Seidel checked on the flop of 9?A?8? and Kisacikoglu checked back. Seidel then led out for 1,000,000 on the 4? turn and Kisacikoglu laid it down.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
19,000,000
-1,000,000
|
-1,000,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
10,500,000
-3,500,000
|
-3,500,000 |
|
|
||
Level: 21
Blinds: 200,000/400,000
Ante: 400,000