Last Updated on October 9, 2026 by Bala Kumar
Most of us, coming back to a game after four decades, would be happy just to remember the rules. Erik Seidel came back and reached the final.
The poker Hall of Famer sat down this week in the $2,500 Super Jackpot at the 2026 Las Vegas Open, his first backgammon tournament in more than 40 years. He finished second, and the final went right down to the last game.
He expected to go out early
Seidel didn’t go in with big expectations. On October 6 he posted on X that he was about to play some of the best backgammon players in the world, and joked that the experience would probably send him straight back into retirement. Maybe, he added, he’d try again in another 40 years.
A few days later, his tone had changed. His next update was a lot more upbeat, and with good reason.
A final that couldn’t have been closer
The Super Jackpot final was a match to 17 points. Seidel and his opponent traded blows all the way to 16–16, which in backgammon means one game decides everything. Whoever wins it takes the title. That last game went against him, and Seidel settled for runner-up.
PokerNews, which first reported the result, didn’t list the field size, prize money or the winner’s name. We’ll update this post if the Las Vegas Open publishes official results.
Backgammon came first
Long before Rounders made his name famous, Seidel was a backgammon player. As a young man in New York he spent his time at the Mayfair Club, the bridge and backgammon room that also produced Stu Ungar, Howard Lederer and Dan Harrington.
He made his first real money there playing backgammon, and he has talked fondly about it since. In a 2019 interview with PokerNews, he said he loved the game and that New York was the perfect place to be playing it back then.
He isn’t the only poker star with a backgammon past. Gus Hansen played professionally before switching to cards, and Zdenek Zizka won the Ultimate Backgammon Championship in Monte Carlo in July 2025 just weeks after taking his first WSOP bracelet.
Still one of poker’s best at 66
Seidel’s poker résumé needs little introduction, but here’s a quick reminder of why this backgammon run made headlines.
| Milestone | Detail |
| Age | 66 (born November 6, 1959, in New York City) |
| First big tournament | Runner-up to Johnny Chan in the 1988 WSOP Main Event, the hand later shown in Rounders |
| WSOP bracelets | 10, from 1992 to 2023, across five different games |
| Poker Hall of Fame | Inducted in 2010 |
| Latest bracelet | 50,000SuperHighRoller,WSOPParadise,December2023(1,704,400) |
| Live earnings | Nearly $49 million |
| Near miss, July 2026 | 2nd of 892 in the WSOP $3,000 6-Handed PLO for $271,371 |
That makes two runner-up finishes in three months for Seidel, once at the WSOP in July and now at the backgammon board. For most players, a second place is a disappointment. For a 66-year-old who hadn’t played a backgammon tournament since the 1980s, it’s a reminder that real skill doesn’t really fade.
What’s next?
Seidel hasn’t said if he’ll play more backgammon events. But after coming this close, it’s hard to imagine he’ll wait another 40 years to find out if he can go one better.
Sources
• PokerNews: Erik Seidel Finishes Second in First Backgammon Tournament in Over 40 Years (Oct 8, 2026)
• PokerNews: Poker Legend Erik Seidel Defeated Heads-Up For 11th WSOP Bracelet (Jul 14, 2026)
FAQs
1. Why did Erik Seidel return to backgammon after 40 years?
Erik Seidel returned to competitive backgammon at the 2026 Las Vegas Open, revisiting a game he enjoyed playing before becoming a professional poker player.
2. How did Erik Seidel perform in the 2026 Las Vegas Open?
Seidel finished second in the $2,500 Super Jackpot backgammon tournament after reaching the final and losing the deciding game.
3. How close was Erik Seidel to winning the backgammon title?
The final reached a 16–16 score in a match to 17 points, leaving the outcome to the last game, which Seidel lost.
4. How many WSOP bracelets has Erik Seidel won?
Erik Seidel has won 10 World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets across five different poker variants, with his latest victory coming in December 2023.
5. Did Erik Seidel confirm whether he will play more backgammon tournaments?
Seidel has not confirmed whether he will compete in more backgammon tournaments following his runner-up finish at the 2026 Las Vegas Open.
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