Huck Seed wins Tournament of Champions

Huck Seed, who was voted into the World Series of Poker’s 27-player Tournament of Champions by fans, won the freeroll event and the $500,000 first prize.

Seed, who was the 1996 World Series of Poker’s Main Event champion, won the all-star tournament that was played off and on over a week’s time and included a 16-hour final day, played during the July 4th holiday weekend at the Rio. 

Seed, who has won four World Series of Poker individual event championship bracelets, captured the non-bracelet event after beating Howard “the Professor” Lederer, in heads-up play.

Lederer, a two-time bracelet winner, battled Seed and third-place finisher Johnny Chan for nearly 90 minutes before losing on the final hand of the night to Seed’s pair of aces. 

Lederer collected $250,000 for second while Chan, a 10-time bracelet winner, took home $100,000 for third.

“I felt like this was a team thing; me and everyone who voted for me,” Seed said.  “There were a lot of great players in this event. It was fun to compete. It was like a reunion of the old school players.”

Seed’s last gold bracelet win came in 2003. However, Seed has since won the NBC Heads-Up poker championship at Caesars Palace, and finished high in other major events.

Others players who cashed included: 2005 World Series of Poker Champion Joe Hachem (4th for $25,000), Barry Greenstein (5th for $25,000), Daniel Negreanu (6th for $25,000), Jennifer Harman (7th for $25,000), Annie Duke (8th for $25,000), and T.J. Cloutier (9th for $25,000).

Photo courtesy WSOP by Rob Gracie