Erick Lindgren Profile

June 23, 2007 - Chris Welsh

With 15 money finishes in the World Series of Poker, pro Erick Lindgren has yet to capture a coveted bracelet, but not for lack of trying. He HAS captured two World Poker Tour titles, and many others along the way.

For a boy from North Carolina you would think Erick Lindgren’s passion would lie in sports, notably basketball; and you would be right. While he was born in Burney, California, he grew up in NC, a state passionate about its college basketball, and Erick was no exception to the rule. A natural competitive streak earned him a Most Valuable Player title as a shooting guard in basketball, and a position as an all league quarterback in football. After high school he attended Butte Junior College, but dropped out in year two, determined to find his fortune in the gambling industry; but as a blackjack dealer, not a gambler.

After some time spent dealing cards Erick moved on to playing them for a living; but not, yet, as a pro poker player. First he was a prop player, a person hired by a casino to “prop up” flagging games for their customers by joining in, often in the early morning hours when there were not enough casino patrons to fill out the tables. As a prop player he made an hourly wage, but all the money he won and lost at the tables was his own. Prop players can have a frustrating time as they are often called to leave good games to prop up others, but Erick earned something more valuable than an hourly wage; he earned the respect of the old pros he played with, who began to teach and encourage his game. Soon Erick had learned enough, and began playing on his own.

His prowess at poker has earned him a lot as well over the years, starting with a number of final tables at the World Poker Tour and being named the WPT Player of the Year in their second season. Erick’s single mindedness at learning and perfecting his game is represented by his daily work at it. Whether he is playing poker or studying video of his opponents in action, Erick continues to develop an already powerful poker arsenal.

For any doubters who saw this talented sports star turn from playing basketball and football to playing poker, consider the fact that Erick has won nearly two million dollars at his new passion, including one victory that was $1 million just by itself; and that is just on the WPT circuit.

In his late twenties and single, Erick now makes his home in Las Vegas, where he can be close to the action, both in the high profile tournament events and the casinos where the high rollers splash around every night. While he has won as much as 40 grand in a single hand of poker, Erick couldn’t tell you how much he may have lost. Some people might call this poor accounting or money management, but Erick would just call it focusing on the positive. His fun, young attitude is evident at the table, where his serious poker face may slip now and again and treat the TV audience to an honest to goodness grin; it is obvious Erick enjoys what he does.

Who does Erick think could beat Erick in poker? Gus Hansen, Daniel Negreanu and Phil Ivey top the list, at least the list of players that have earned Lindgren’s respect. Their deep knowledge of the game and their aggressive style of play are the reasons Erick puts them on the top, although you could be sure they may have his name near the top of their own lists.