The Legend Still Has It: Erik Seidel Kicks Off U.S. Poker Open w/ Tournament Victory
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Erik Seidel proved once again that he's still among the best in the world after taking down the first event of the 2024 U.S. Poker Open on Tuesday in Las Vegas.
The $5,100 buy-in no-limit hold'em tournament, which attracted 116 entrants to the PokerGO Studio, paid out $145,000 to its winner. Seidel, a 2010 Poker Hall of Fame inductee, finished off the win in quite the thrilling fashion. It was his second tournament victory in 2024.
Seidel Continues His Poker Mastery
Seidel entered the second and final day of play with a commanding chip lead over his five opponents. Only Eric Afriat was even close in chips, while the rest had crumbs compared to the poker legend.
U.S. Poker Open Final Table Results
Justin Zaki was the first player out the door at the final table — sixth place for $29,000 — when he lost a race to Dylan Linde. Moments later, Afriat's pocket kings sent William Lamar-Boone home in fifth place for $37,700.
Seidel, who had lost his chip lead to Afriat, would get some of his chips back in his turn to win a big pot with pocket kings. He not only doubled in the hand against Afriat's A♠Q♠, but also busted John Khoury, who had 9♦9♣, in fourth place ($49,300).
That hand turned things back around for the Poker Hall of Famer, who then began to take over the final table and caught some cards. And then the tournament came to an end with an entertaining three-way all in, captured in the PokerGO video that follows.
Linde, who only had enough to cover the small blind, was forced all in with K♠8♣. Afriat, on the button with 9♠9♦, raised to 750,000. Seidel, who had about 80% of all chips in play, moved all in with A♠A♦, and Afriat called with about 1.7 million behind. The board ran out clean for aces, and that brought about the conclusion to the first U.S. Poker Open event of the year.
For his third place finish, Linde received $63,800, while the runner-up earned $89,900.
Seidel now over $46.2 million in live tournament cashes, according to The Hendon Mob. He won his 10th World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet in the Bahamas back in December when he took down the $50,000 Super High Roller for $1,704,400.
The newly minted U.S. Poker Open champion is off to a strong start to 2024 at age 64, and he's showing no signs of slowing down. On Tuesday, the second event of the series — $10,100 No-Limit Hold'em — began with 99 entrants. There will be eight tournaments played before the series wraps April 17.
*Feature image courtesy of PokerGO.
