Seidel Shines in WPT's First Super High Roller

Level 21: 50,000-100,000, 10,000 ante

While the WPT World Championship played down to the final table, a small tournament with just three tables worth of action got underway in the corner of the Fontana Lounge. Before the day was over, it was drawing as much attention as the Championship itself thanks to its all-star line-up, not to mention its $100,000 buy-in.

The WPT Super High Roller was the first-ever $100,000 buy-in event held in the United States and the bold experiemnt ended up being a big success thanks to an impressive turnout of 29 runners, including Daniel Negreanu, Erik Seidel, Tony G, Vivek Rajkumar, Dan Cates, Justin Bonomo, Erick Lindgren, Eugene Katchalov, Yevgeniy Timoshenko, Phil Laak, and Sam Trickett, just to name a few.

THe star-studded line-up resulted in a star-studded final table with Bonomo, Rajkumar, Negreanu, Lindgren, and Seidel all making the money. The heads-up action was a rematch of another Super High Roller event, as it was an Erick vs. Erik affair with Lindgren and Seidel battling back and forth for the title. At the 2007 Aussie Millions Super High Roller, Lindgren prevailed over Seidel, but 2011 is the Year of Seidel and this time around the Hall of Famer once again ended on top, picking up the title and $1,092,000.

The win brings Seidel's 2011 tournament earnings to over $5.4 million and gives him his fourth big win of the year. Even more important than that, it further cements Seidel's status as one of the best to ever play the game.

Hand #326: Erik Seidel Wins $100K Super High Roller ($1,092,000)

Level 21: 50,000-100,000, 10,000 ante

 Hand #326 - Erik Seidel completes the small blind and Erick Lindgren checks his option in the big blind.  The flop falls A42 and Lindgren checks.  Seidel bets 125,000 and Lindgren moves all-in for his last million chips.

Seidel thinks for a few seconds before calling with A5 for a pair of aces.  Lindgren has a flush draw and a gutshot with J3.

The turn brings the 9, which is no help to Lindgren.  The river comes 2 and Seidel's pair of aces hold to take the pot and the title.

Seidel earns $1,092,000 for the win, while Lindgren gets $700,500 for his runner-up finish.  This is his fourth victory so far this year, not to mention his ninth final table appearance.  Seidel's 2011 tournament earnings are now up to $5.4 million.

Hands #318-325: $100K Super High Roller

Level 21: 50,000-100,000, 10,000 ante

Hand #318 - Erick Lindgren gets a walk.

Hand #319 - Erick Lindgren raises to 200,000 and Erik Seidel calls.  The flop comes K95 and Seidel checks.  Lindgren bets 225,000 and Seidel calls.

The turn is the 6 and Seidel checks.  Lindgren bets 700,000 and Seidel calls.  The river is the 8 and Seidel checks.  Lindgren checks behind and shows KQ for top pair. 

Seidel has him beat though, as his K8 rivered two pair to take the pot.

Hand #320 - Erik Seidel completes the small blind.  Erick Lindgren checks his option in the big blind.  The flop comes KQ4, Lindgren checks, Seidel bets 150,000, and Lindgren check-raises to win the pot. 

Hand #321 - Erick Lindgren completes the small blind. Erik Seidel checks his option in the big blind. The flop comes Q86 and both players check. The turn is the 10 and Seidel bets 150,000 to win the pot. 

Hand #322 - Erik Seidel completes the small blind. Erick Lindgren checks his option in the big blind. The flop comes 742, Lindgren bets 175,000, Seidel raises to 350,000, and Lindgren moves all-in. Seidel folds and Lindgren takes the pot. 

Hand #323 - Erick Lindgren raises to 200,000 and Erik Seidel calls.  The flop comes AK3 and Seidel checks.  Lindgren bets 175,000 and Seidel check-raises to 400,000.  Lindgren folds and Seidel takes the pot.

Hand #324 - Erik Seidel raises to 200,000, Erick Lindgren folds, and Seidel takes the pot.

Hand #325 - Erick Lindgren moves all-in, Erik Seidel folds, and Lindgren takes the pot.

Hands #315-318: $100K Super High Roller

Level 21: 50,000-100,000, 10,000 ante

Hand #315 - Erick Lindgren raises to 250,000 and Erik Seidel calls.  The flop comes J82 and Seidel checks.  Lindgren bets 225,000 and Seidel check-raises to 600,000.  Lindgren folds and Seidel takes the pot.

Hand #316 - Erik Seidel raiases to 200,000 and Erick Lindgren calls.  The two players check it down as the board runs out 764A8.  Lindgren shows 24 for a pair of fours, but Seidel has him bested with 36 for a pair of sixes to take the pot.

Hand #317 - Erick Lindgren completes the small blind and Erik Seidel raises out of the big blind.  Lindgren folds and Seidel takes the pot.

Erik Seidel - 9,000,000 (90 BBs)
Erick Lindgren - 2,600,000 (26 BBs) 

Hands #312-314: $100K Super High Roller

Level 21: 50,000-100,000, 10,000 ante

Hand #312 - Erik Seidel raises to 200,000 and Erick Lindgren calls.  The flop comes A32 and Lindgren checks.  Seidel bets 225,000, Lindgren folds, and Seidel takes the pot.

Hand #313 - Erick Lindgren raises to 200,000 and Erik Seidel calls.  The flop comes AJ2 and Seidel checks.  Lindgren bets 225,000 and Seidel calls.

The turn is the 10 and both players chekc.  The river is the 3 and Seidel bets 400,000.  Lindgren folds and Seidel takes the pot.

Hand #314 - Erik Seide raises to 200,000 and Erick Lindgren calls.  Both players check it down as the board runs out 10325Q.  Lindgren shows nine-high and Seidel takes the pot with J7 for jack-high.

Hands #309-311: $100K Super High Roll

Level 21: 50,000-100,000, 10,000 ante

Hand #309 - Erik Seidel gests a walk.

Hand #310 - Erik Seidel raises to 200,000 and Erick Lindgren calls.  The flop comes A54 and Lindren checks.  Seidel bets 250,000, Lindgren folds, and Seidel takes the pot.

Hand #311 - Erik Seidel gets a walk.

Erik Seidel - 7,400,000 (74 BBs)
Erick Lindgren - 4,200,000 (42 BBs) 

Hands #305-308: $100K Super High Roller

Level 21: 50,000-100,000, 10,000 ante

Hand #305 - Erick Lindgren raises to 225,000 and Erik Seidel calls.  The flop comes AA6 and Seidel checks.  Lindgren bets 225,000, Seidel folds, and Lindgren takes the pot.

Hand #306 - Erik Seidel raises to 200,000 and Erick Lindgren calls.  The flop comes Q77 and Lindgren checks.  Seidel bets 225,000 and Lindgren calls.  The turn is the 10 and both players check.  The river is the K and Lindgren checks a third time.  Seidel bets 450,000 and Lindgren calls.

Seidel shows K4 for two pair, kings and sevens, to take the pot.

Hand #307 - Erik Seidel gets a walk.

Hand #308 - Erik Seidel raises to 200,000 and Erick Lindgren calls.  The flop comes K105 and Lindgren checks.  Seidel bets 250,000 and Lindgren calls.

The turn is the Q and Lindgren bets 300,000.  Seidel calls.  The river is the K and Lindgren checks.  Seidel checks behind and Lindgren shows J9 for a king-high straight.  

Both players laugh and Seidel tells Lindgren, "I almost fell for it."

Hands #301-303:$100K Super High Roller

Level 21: 50,000-100,000, 10,000 ante

Hand #301- Erick Lindgren raises to 200,000 and Erik Seidel calls.  The flop comes J63 and Seidel checks.  Lindgren bets 225,000 and Seidel calls.  

The turn brings the J and both players check.  They check again when the river comes 7.  Seidel shows A6 for a pair of sixes and takes the pot.

Hand #302 - Erik Seidel raises to 200,000 and Erick Lindgren calls.  The flop comes 1074 and Lindgren bets 275,000.  Seidel folds and Lindgren takes the pot.

Hand #303 - Erick Lindgren raises to 200,000 and Erik Seidel calls.  The flop comes A98 and Seidel checks.  Lindgren bets 275,000 and Seidel calls.  The turn is the K and Seidel checks again.  Lindgren bets 460,000 and Seidel check-raises to 1,400,000.

Lindgren deliberates for a minutes, then folds, and Seidel takes the pot.

Erik Seidel - 7,700,000 (77 BBs)
Erick Lindgren - 3,900,000 (39 BBs)

Hands #295-300: $100K Super High Roller

Level 21: 50,000-100,000, 10,000 ante

Hand #295 - Erick Lindgren raises to 200,000 and Erik Seidel calls.  The flop comes 964 and Seidel checks.  Lindgren bets 225,000, Seidel folds, and Lindgren takes the pot.

Hand #296 - Erik Seidel raises to 200,000 and Erick Lindgren reraises to 680,000.  Seidel folds and Lindgren takes the pot.

Hand #297 - Erick Lindgren raises to 200,000 and Erik Seidel calls.  The two players check the K109 flop and the turn brings the 4.  Seidel bets 175,000 and Lindgren calls.  

The river is the A and both players check  Seidel shows A4 for a rivered pair of aces to take the pot.

Hand #298 - Erik Seidel raises to 200,000 and Erick Lindgren calls.  The flop comes 1074 and Lindgren bets 275,000.  Seidel calls and the turn brings the 2.  Lindgren checks, Seidel bets 500,000, Lindgren folds, and Seidel takes the pot.

Hand #299 - Erik Seidel gets a walk.

Hand #300 - Erik Seidel completes the small blind and Erick Lindgren checks his option in the big blind.  Both players check the AA7 flop and check again when the turn brings the 4.  The river is the K and the two players check a third time.

Seidel shows Q5 and Lindgren shows Q6.  Lindgren's kicker doesn't play and they chop the pot. 

Hand #294: Erik Seidel Doubles Up

Level 21: 50,000-100,000, 10,000 ante

Hand #294 - Erik Seidel raises to 200,000 and Erick Lindgren moves all-in, having Seidel easily covered.  Seidel calls with QQ and Lindgren shows A10.

The flop comes K95 and Seidel's queens remain out front.  Lindgren picks up some extra ous when the turn comes 10.  The river is the 2 and Seidel takes the pot to double up.