29 of the top players in the world went deep in their pockets to pay the $100,000 entry fee for the WPT Super High Roller, the last tournament on the WPT this season. By the end of Day 1, 27 players were already gone and it was a showdown for the $1.092 Million and title between Erik Seidel and Erick Lindgren (the battle of the Eriks), who are both also sponsored poker pro colleagues with Full Tilt Poker. But in the end, it was destiny for Erik Seidel to win the title who was already having an amazing year in his poker career. The 8 time WSOP bracelet winner has already won $5.6 Million in 2011 and further advanced his lead on the All Time Money List with $15,945,180 in career live tournament winnings. Seidel has won 4 titles this year including the Aussie Millions Super High Roller event in January for $2.5 Million.
Daniel Negreanu, who took third place, continues to be second on the All Time Money List with $14.5 Million in live tournament earnings behind Seidel who extended his lead over Negreanu to $1.5 Million. Daniel Negreanu was eliminated in 3rd place by Eric “E-Dog” Lindgren and 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.”
WPT Championship
Scott Seiver beat 224 other players in the $25,000 buy-in event to win his first World Poker Tour title. Seiver previously had $2.3 million in career tournament earnings including one World Series of Poker bracelet.
Scott Seiver entered the final table with only a 20,000 chip deficit behind Galen Hall who ultimately finished 3rd in the tournament which was good enough for a $589,355 pay day. Soon after the final table started, Seiver gained the chip lead and never relinquished it.
In heads-up, Seiver beat three-time WSOP bracelet winner Farzad Bonyadi, who finished in second for $1.06 million to clinch his first WPT title. Seiver had a 3:1 chip advantage against Bonyadi entering heads up play and played a very aggressive game against him exerting pressure throughout the 2-hour matchup.
On the final hand of the matchup, moved all-in after he rivered a straight. Bonyadi called him with two pair and it was all over as Seiver captured his much deserved title.
Congratulations to the winners!
Here are the final table results from the two major events at the 2011 WPT Championship at Bellagio:
$100,000 WPT Super High Roller
1. Erik Seidel — $1,092,000
2. Erick Lindgren — $700,500
3. Daniel Negreanu — $448,320
4. Vivek Rajkumar — $336,240
5. Justin Bonomo — $224,160
$25,000 WPT Main Event
1. Scott Seiver — $1,618,344
2. Farzad Bonyadi — $1,061,900
3. Galen Hall — $589,355
4. Roger Teska — $371,665
5. Tony Gargano — $278,749
6. Justin Young — $225,654
