Erik Seidel Tops Daniel Negreanu as Winningest Poker Player of All Time

Written by:
Ace King
Published on:
Mar/07/2011
Erik Seidel

By winning the 2011 National Heads-Up Poker Championship Sunday at Caesars Palace, Erik Seidel surpasses Daniel Negreanu as poker’s top earner of all time (in live tournaments). 

Seidel beat Chris Moneymaker in the finals to win the title and $750,000.

“It’s a great feeling,” the 51-year-old Seidel said. “Any time you win, you don’t have that lingering ‘what did I do wrong?’ or ‘Maybe I should have done something different.’”

Negreanu had only regained the title late last year from Phil Ivey.

Seidel has played the National Heads-Up Championship rather well these past two years, finishing second to Annie Duke last year.  Seidel is known for finishing second in many tournaments., including the 1988 World Series of Poker main event.

“I think it’s nice,” Seidel said of passing Daniel Negreanu to move into first place. “I kind of expect it will be a temporary thing, but I’m happy to be there now.”

Chris Moneymaker, who has not had any major impact on the game since being credited with the poker revolution after his World Series of Poker win in 2003, has enjoyed a resurgence of sorts in recent months.  Prior to his second place finish at the 2011 National Heads-Up Poker Championship, Moneymaker had finished an impressive 11th place at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure Season 8 Main Event back in January. 

- Ace King, Gambling911.com

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