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February 12, 2012

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Erik Seidel emerges as early chip leader at poker’s all-star game

Matusow, Hellmuth exchange words on first day of World Series of Poker’s Tournament of Champions

By (contact)

Monday, June 28, 2010 | 2:05 a.m.

Image

Leila Navidi

Erik Seidel of Henderson plays during the final table of the World Championship H.O.R.S.E. tournament at the World Series of Poker at the Rio Tuesday, June 30, 2009.

Tournament of Champions Chip Leaders

  • 1. Erik Seidel — 72,075
  • 2. Johnny Chan — 71,325
  • 3. Mike Matusow — 70,575
  • 4. Barry Greenstein — 56,775
  • 5. Joe Hachem — 55,650
  • 6. Huck Seed — 51,875
  • 7. Bertrand Grospellier — 51,175
  • 8. Allen Cunningham — 49,300
  • 9. Scotty Nguyen — 48,900

Sun Coverage

This was no ordinary three-table poker tournament.

The World Series of Poker's Tournament of Champions, billed as poker's All-Star Game, started Sunday afternoon at the Rio with 27 of the world's elite players as voted by the fans.

By the end of the day, five players busted and the field shrank to 22 entrants. Eight-time World Series of Poker champion Erik Seidel leads the way with 72,075 chips.

Ten-time champion Johnny Chan and 2006 Tournament of Champions winner Mike Matusow are close behind. The players who exited include current World Series of Poker Player of the Year frontrunner John Juanda, stalwart Phil Ivey, 2004 Main Event winner Greg Raymer, CardPlayer Magazine CEO Barry Shulman and high-stakes regular Sammy Farha.

The remaining players will reconvene at noon today at the Rio to play four more levels. Poker Hall of Famer Doyle Brunson and last year's Main Event champion Joe Cada will need to take down some early pots as both are stuck with barely 10,000 chips.

The tournament, which will be aired on ESPN later this summer, will wrap up on the Fourth of July. According to World Series of Poker's live updates, Matusow and Phil Hellmuth dominated the cameras' attention on the first day by tangling in a number of pots.

As always, Hellmuth showed no restraint in singing his own praises. When he forced Matusow to fold a superior hand on the river, Hellmuth launched into one his vintage speeches.

"That's why I'm the best in the world," Hellmuth said.

Hellmuth, however, is down to 21,825 chips from the starting stack of 30,000. Matusow, meanwhile, is cruising with 70,575.

"They might close down the Rio I've won so many pots in one day," Matusow said. "When my momma says I'm going to win something, I'm going to win something."

Nine places will make the money in the free-roll tournament. First place will receive $500,000, second will get $250,000 and third will earn $100,000. Fourth through ninth is each good for $25,000.

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