Mark Seif
Encyclopedia
Mark Seif is an Egyptian American
attorney
and professional poker
player.
. He received a bachelor’s degree in Economics
from UCLA and a juris doctorate from Loyola Law School
in Los Angeles.
Seif currently resides in Henderson, Nevada
with his wife (Jennifer) and their two daughters (Sarah and Ashley).
Seif started playing poker at the age of six in his parents' home game, but did not gain widespread public recognition until finishing fourth in the second ever World Poker Tour
(WPT) event in August 2002. In May 2003, Seif had his first money finish in the World Series of Poker
(WSOP) in the $3,000 no limit
Texas hold'em event, where he finished in 9th place. That final table included Phil Hellmuth, Jr., Daniel Negreanu
, and Erik Seidel
among others.
However, Seif is best known for winning two WSOP bracelets back-to-back events in 2005 in the $1,500 limit
hold'em shootout and the $1,500 no limit hold'em events. He bested a field of 2,013 players to win his second bracelet. At that final table, he defeated Greg Raymer
, Dave Ulliott
, and Bill Gazes
among others. Winning those two WSOP Bracelets in a span of six days in 2005, places Seif's accomplishment among the greatest in WSOP history considering the massive fields entered in those events.
Later in 2005, Seif won the US Poker Championship in seven-card stud
at the Taj Majal in Atlantic City, New Jersey
. He also made the final table at the World Championship of Online Poker
that same year. 2005, was, without a doubt, Seif's best year thus far in his career.
Seif was a color commentator
for the Professional Poker Tour
television series which aired on the Travel Channel
starting in July 2006 and ended in late 2007. He has been a spokesperson for Absolute Poker since 2004.
In 2007, Seif purchased a US Poker Bowl franchise named the Detroit Absolute Nuts, who went on to win the first ever US Poker Bowl Conference Championship.
As of 2010, his total live tournament winnings exceed $3 million. His 10 cashes at the WSOP account for $866,303 of those winnings.
Egyptian American
Egyptian Americans are Americans of Egyptian ancestry, first-generation Egyptian immigrants, or descendants of Egyptians who immigrated to the United States. In the 2007 U.S. census, the number of people with Egyptian ancestry was estimated at 195,000, although some estimates range from several...
attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and professional poker
Poker
Poker is a family of card games that share betting rules and usually hand rankings. Poker games differ in how the cards are dealt, how hands may be formed, whether the high or low hand wins the pot in a showdown , limits on bet sizes, and how many rounds of betting are allowed.In most modern poker...
player.
Personal life
Seif was born in Cairo, Egypt before moving with his family at the age of two, to Southern CaliforniaSouthern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
. He received a bachelor’s degree in Economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
from UCLA and a juris doctorate from Loyola Law School
Loyola Law School
Loyola Law School is the law school of Loyola Marymount University, a private Catholic university in the Jesuit and Marymount traditions, in Los Angeles, California. Loyola was established in 1920. Like Loyola University Chicago School of Law and Loyola University New Orleans College of Law , it...
in Los Angeles.
Seif currently resides in Henderson, Nevada
Henderson, Nevada
-Demographics:According to the 2000 census, there were 175,381 people, 66,331 households, and 47,095 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,200.8 people per square mile . There were 71,149 housing units at an average density of 892.8 per square mile...
with his wife (Jennifer) and their two daughters (Sarah and Ashley).
Poker
In 2001, Seif all but quit practicing law to play poker full-time.Seif started playing poker at the age of six in his parents' home game, but did not gain widespread public recognition until finishing fourth in the second ever World Poker Tour
World Poker Tour
The World Poker Tour is a series of international poker tournaments and associated television series broadcasting the final table of each tournament. It was started in the United States by attorney/television producer Steven Lipscomb, who served as CEO of WPT Enterprises , the firm that...
(WPT) event in August 2002. In May 2003, Seif had his first money finish in the World Series of Poker
World Series of Poker
The World Series of Poker is a world-renowned series of poker tournaments held annually in Las Vegas and, since 2005, sponsored by Harrah's Entertainment...
(WSOP) in the $3,000 no limit
Betting (poker)
In the game of poker, the play largely centers on the act of betting, and as such, a protocol has been developed to speed up play, lessen confusion, and increase security while playing...
Texas hold'em event, where he finished in 9th place. That final table included Phil Hellmuth, Jr., Daniel Negreanu
Daniel Negreanu
Daniel Negreanu is a Canadian professional poker player. He has won four World Series of Poker bracelets and two World Poker Tour Championship titles. He is currently ranked second in the all-time career earnings list and is the star of poker game show Million Dollar Challenge. He plays a big...
, and Erik Seidel
Erik Seidel
Erik Seidel is an American professional poker player from Las Vegas, Nevada who has won eight World Series of Poker bracelets and a World Poker Tour title.In 2010, he was inducted as a member of the Poker Hall of Fame.-Early life:...
among others.
However, Seif is best known for winning two WSOP bracelets back-to-back events in 2005 in the $1,500 limit
Betting (poker)
In the game of poker, the play largely centers on the act of betting, and as such, a protocol has been developed to speed up play, lessen confusion, and increase security while playing...
hold'em shootout and the $1,500 no limit hold'em events. He bested a field of 2,013 players to win his second bracelet. At that final table, he defeated Greg Raymer
Greg Raymer
Gregory Raymer nicknamed "Fossilman," is a professional poker player. He is best known for winning the 2004 World Series of Poker Main Event.-Early life:...
, Dave Ulliott
Dave Ulliott
David A. Ulliott , known by the nickname Devilfish, is an English professional gambler and poker player. Formerly, Ulliott was a minor figure in the Hull underworld, but went on to become a World Series of Poker bracelet-winner, and a mainstay of televised poker...
, and Bill Gazes
Bill Gazes
William G. "Bill" Gazes is an American professional poker player from Las Vegas, Nevada, who in his career has made over $2.2 Million in live tournament earnings and is a sponsored player on Full Tilt Poker known as a Full Tilt Pro....
among others. Winning those two WSOP Bracelets in a span of six days in 2005, places Seif's accomplishment among the greatest in WSOP history considering the massive fields entered in those events.
Later in 2005, Seif won the US Poker Championship in seven-card stud
Seven-card stud
Seven-card stud is a variant of stud poker. Until the recent increase in popularity of Texas hold 'em, seven-card stud was the most popular poker variant in home games across the United States, and in casinos in the eastern part of the country. Two to eight players is common, though eight may...
at the Taj Majal in Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
. He also made the final table at the World Championship of Online Poker
World Championship of Online Poker
The World Championship of Online Poker is an online poker tournament series sponsored by PokerStars. It is played on the PokerStars site in September....
that same year. 2005, was, without a doubt, Seif's best year thus far in his career.
Seif was a color commentator
Color commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
for the Professional Poker Tour
Professional Poker Tour
The Professional Poker Tour was a series of televised poker tournaments, spinning off from the World Poker Tour television series. It billed itself as the first professional poker league, and was limited to players who have established themselves on the World Poker Tour, World Series of Poker,...
television series which aired on the Travel Channel
Travel Channel
The Travel Channel is a satellite and cable television channel that is headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland, US. It features documentaries and how-to shows related to travel and leisure around the United States and throughout the world. Programming has included shows in African animal safaris,...
starting in July 2006 and ended in late 2007. He has been a spokesperson for Absolute Poker since 2004.
In 2007, Seif purchased a US Poker Bowl franchise named the Detroit Absolute Nuts, who went on to win the first ever US Poker Bowl Conference Championship.
As of 2010, his total live tournament winnings exceed $3 million. His 10 cashes at the WSOP account for $866,303 of those winnings.
WSOP Bracelets
| Year | Tournament | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 2005 World Series of Poker The 2005 World Series of Poker opened play on June 2, continuing through the Main Event No Limit World Championship starting on July 7. The conclusion of the Main Event on July 15 marked the close of play, and the largest prize in sports and/or television history at the time was awarded to the... |
$1,500 Limit Texas hold'em | $181,330 |
| 2005 | $1,500 No limit Texas hold'em | $611,145 |
Quotes
- "There are three ways to play jacks, and they're all wrong."
- "To play great poker, sometimes you’ve got to go broke."