Seidel was born in New York City.[2] He played professional backgammon in his youth. He eventually became a trader on the American stock exchange stock market and later moved on to poker.[3]
In his first major poker tournament, Seidel was runner-up in the 1988 World Series of Poker Main Event to Johnny Chan.[5] This final hand was featured in the 1998 movie Rounders.[6] Seidel made the WSOP Main Event final table again in 1999, finishing in fourth place in the event won by Noel Furlong.[7]
Seidel won his first WSOP bracelet in 1992.[8] Seidel has won bracelets in five different games, including Hold'em, Omaha, and Deuce to Seven Draw.
On December 9, 2023, Seidel won his tenth bracelet in the $50,000 Super High Roller at WSOP Paradise (Bahamas) for $1,704,400 to tie Doyle Brunson, Johnny Chan, and Phil Ivey for second most WSOP bracelets all time.[9]
In January 2007, Seidel finished in second place in the Aussie Millions $100,000 event and took home $550,000(AUD), beaten by Erick Lindgren in Heads-Up play.[13]
In January 2008, Seidel finished in second place in the Aussie Millions $10,000 main event and won $1,000,000(AUD).[14]
In January 2011, Seidel finished in fourth place in the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure High Roller Event for $295,960, then went on later that month to take 3rd in a A$100,000 buy-in Aussie Millions tournament for $618,139. Just five days later, Seidel pocketed $2,472,555 when he won the Super High Roller Event at the Aussie Millions.[16]
In February 2011, Seidel won the High Roller Event at the LA Poker Classic for $144,570.[17]
In March 2011, Seidel won the National Heads-Up Poker Championship, defeating 2003 World Champion Chris Moneymaker in the final. The $750,000 he collected for the win moved him into first place on the all-time tournament money list.[18]
In May 2011, Seidel won the $100K Super High Roller event at the WPT World Championship for $1,092,780. He defeated fellow Team Full Tilt member Erick Lindgren heads up for the title.[19]
In August 2011, Seidel finished runner-up to David Rheem in the $20,000 buy-in 6-Max No Limit Hold'em tournament at the inaugural Epic Poker League for $604,330, which brought his earnings for 2011 to over $6.2 million.[20]
Seidel mentored journalist Maria Konnikova, starting in 2016, teaching her poker and the mindset that it requires. Seidel taught Konnikova Texas Hold'em and eventually she participated in tournaments and won $350,000. In 2020, Konnikova published a book about her experience: The Biggest Bluff: How I Learned to Pay Attention, Master Myself, And Win.[21][22]
Seidel has won ten WSOP bracelets in his storied poker career. His ten bracelets are tied for third all-time, trailing only Phil Hellmuth Jr and Phil Ivey.
