Erik Seidel triumphed at the EPT Grand Final Super High Roller in Monte Carlo over the weekend, adding a €2.01 million score to a Hendon Mob page that is as almost as long as he is, and one that stretches back almost 30 years.
This was “one of the best tournaments of my career,” according to Seidel, and for a man with eight WSOP bracelets, that’s saying something.
Very few players of his generation have adapted to the rigors of the modern high-roller event, and yet Seidel has now won five and made numerous final tables since the format was introduced around five years ago.
It’s a testament to his mercurial ability to adapt to the changing face of the game over the years.
Urbanovich on Fire
In fact, there have been only four years since 1988 when the veteran has failed to make at least six figures from tournament poker.
He has now amassed $24 million in tournament winnings and sits third overall in the all-time money list. And if consistency of results is how tournament players must be judged, then Seidel is truly one of the greatest of them all.
His victory here was all the more remarkable because he spent most of the tournament treading water with a short stack. Entering heads-up, against rising star Dzmitry Urbanovich, Seidel had a 3:1 chip deficit, and plenty to do.
Urbanovich had been on fire at the previous EPT stop, in Malta, where he cashed in six events, winning an extraordinary four.
Seidel, however, was able to grind his way into the chip lead over a four-hour heads-up battle, before finally felting his opponent with 10-10, which held up against Urbanovich’s K-9 shove.
Gracious Victor
As ever, Seidel was a gracious winner, and was full of respect for his opponent. “I think he was very tough,” he said afterwards. “You can see why he won four tournaments.
He’s an amazing young player and I’m sure this is just the beginning for him. It was interesting watching him. Obviously he’s a tremendously talented kid and he’s going to be a star on the circuit for sure.
“It’s so much tougher now,” he added. “I mean these kids are such amazing players. If you watch this final table today, everybody just played so well … this whole tournament is just the toughest line up in the world. The final table was just super-brutal and, you know, it was just nice to win.”
Elsewhere, Italian player Mustapha Kanit won the €50 Super High Roller event, taking home €936,500, after negotiating his way through a field of 66. The Grand Final Main Event is now in full swing, with the winner to be determined on Friday.
