Erik Seidel Reflects on Poker's Evolution and His Enduring Passion

Erik Seidel has been traveling extensively, visiting cities in Russia and Belarus, including Moscow, Minsk, and Saint Petersburg. His grandmother is from Belarus, and he visited the city where his aunt's mother was born, making the trip particularly meaningful. Seidel plans to play in the WPT tournament in Foxwoods at the end of October and the Bellagio series in December.

Seidel acknowledges that the game of poker has changed significantly in the last 2-3 years, with younger players raising the level of competition. He mentions that the game has evolved to a point where players must adapt or risk becoming obsolete. Seidel initially opposed the use of cameras showing players' hole cards but now acknowledges the positive impact of television on poker. He admits that while he does not watch poker shows as often as he should, preferring other forms of entertainment, he finds the World Series of Poker to be the most challenging 6 weeks of the year.

Despite the challenges, Seidel has played around 25-27 tournaments during the World Series of Poker this year. He finds the competition intense but remains enthusiastic about the game. Seidel's passion for poker is evident, and he continues to strive to keep up with the younger generation of players.