Las Vegas, June 2025 – After nearly a decade of absence from the World Series of Poker (WSOP), Huck Seed, the 1996 WSOP Main Event champion and four-time bracelet winner, has returned to chase gold once again. Known for his quiet confidence and towering 6’6” presence, Seed is now back in the game, drawing attention from fans and fellow pros alike at the 2025 WSOP. But this isn’t just a nostalgic appearance. Seed’s comeback is driven by a renewed love for the game—and perhaps one more bracelet.
The Legend of Huck Seed: From Montana to the Main Event
Huckleberry Seed was born in Santa Clara, California, and raised in Corvallis, Montana. A gifted student and athlete, he enrolled at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), where he studied electrical engineering and played on the college’s basketball team. But as fate would have it, poker came calling.
In the late 1980s, Seed discovered high-stakes poker, and it wasn’t long before he dropped out of Caltech to pursue the game professionally. He emerged as a sharp and intuitive player, known for his deep understanding of probabilities and uncanny ability to read opponents—a product of both intellect and experience.
Rise to Stardom: WSOP Dominance in the 1990s
Seed’s poker resume took off in 1990 with his first WSOP cash. Just four years later, in 1994, he won his first WSOP bracelet in the $2,500 Pot-Limit Omaha event. But it was his landmark win in 1996 that forever etched his name in poker history.
In the 1996 WSOP Main Event, Seed outlasted a field of 295 players to win $1 million—a massive sum at the time. He defeated Bruce Van Horn heads-up and became a household name in the poker world. Despite his modesty and tendency to downplay his accomplishments, Seed’s victory was hailed as a masterclass in composure and strategy.
“Most of the players were pretty lost back then,” Seed later recalled. “It wasn’t really that big of an accomplishment.”
That humility would become one of his defining traits.
Master of Mixed Games: Razz and Beyond
Seed’s career wasn’t limited to Texas Hold’em. He showcased his versatility with multiple deep runs and wins in mixed game formats, especially Razz. He won the $1,500 Razz event at the WSOP in both 2000 and 2003, further cementing his status as a master of multiple poker variants.
Razz, often considered a difficult and frustrating game, seemed to suit Seed perfectly. His patience, mathematical mind, and ability to focus through long sessions gave him an edge. He was respected not just for his results, but for how he played the game—methodically, calmly, and creatively.
Television and the Full Tilt Era
In the early 2000s, as poker exploded into the mainstream thanks to the Moneymaker Boom, Seed became one of the game’s most recognizable faces. He was an original member of Team Full Tilt alongside poker greats like Phil Ivey, Gus Hansen, and Chris Ferguson. Seed was a regular fixture in televised cash games, including “Poker After Dark” and “High Stakes Poker.”
Viewers were drawn to his quiet demeanor, odd prop bets, and unshakable table presence. He wasn’t flashy like some of his peers, but he played a disciplined and cerebral style that often confounded even the most aggressive opponents.
One of Seed’s most famous appearances was on “Poker After Dark,” where he would often remain silent for entire sessions, only to strike with perfectly timed bluffs and value bets. He wasn’t just playing cards; he was playing people.
Prop Bets and the Huck Seed Mystique
Beyond his tournament achievements, Seed developed a cult-like following for his outrageous prop bets. He once bet he could float in the ocean for 24 hours without touching the bottom (he failed). Another time, he attempted to go an entire year without shaving. There were also bets involving free throws, running marathons, and remaining silent for weeks.
These wagers weren’t just for attention. They were an extension of Seed’s personality—curious, competitive, and always pushing boundaries. To many, they highlighted the essence of old-school poker: larger-than-life characters who lived on their own terms.
The Decline and Disappearance
As the poker boom waned and Full Tilt collapsed in the aftermath of Black Friday (April 15, 2011), many pros disappeared from the spotlight. Huck Seed was one of them.
His tournament appearances became rare, and his last significant WSOP cash came in 2013 when he finished 11th in the $50,000 Poker Players Championship for $147,882. After a 59th place finish at the 2016 WSOP, Seed all but vanished from the live tournament circuit.
During this period, he remained active in private games and underground scenes but gave few interviews and maintained a low public profile. Many fans speculated that he had retired quietly.
The Hall of Fame and Legacy
In 2020, Huck Seed was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame. It was a long-overdue honor that recognized not just his four WSOP bracelets and over $7.6 million in lifetime tournament earnings, but also his unique contribution to poker’s culture and history.
“Poker has given me so much,” Seed said during his virtual induction. “It’s an honor to be remembered among the legends.”
Why Now? The Phenom Poker Connection
So what brought Seed back in 2025?
Seed credits a new crypto-based, community-run poker platform called Phenom Poker for reigniting his passion. He spent the past three months playing regularly on the site, drawn in by its fair structure, vibrant player community, and focus on mixed games.
“It felt different,” Seed said. “Not the same old big company taking all the rake. I started playing more, and the spark came back.”
He entered Event #18: $10,000 Dealer’s Choice 6-Handed Championship at the 2025 WSOP, and before that, secured a small but meaningful cash—50th place in Event #15: $1,500 Mixed Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better.
Rust and Redemption: Can Huck Seed Compete in 2025?
Seed admits the modern game is tougher. “The solvers, the young crushers, it’s all changed,” he said. “But I’ve been playing every day. A lot of the rust is off.”
Despite his humility, Seed believes he still has an edge in certain formats. “I like my chances. I think I’ve got better than 20-to-1 odds to win a bracelet this summer.”
And when one of the greatest prop bettors in poker history says that—you listen.
Final Thoughts: More Than Just a Comeback
Huck Seed’s return to the WSOP is more than a player chasing another payday. It’s a symbol of continuity in a rapidly evolving game. He bridges the gap between the old-school legends and the new generation of data-driven players.
For the poker world, his comeback is a reminder that greatness doesn’t fade. It evolves, adapts, and sometimes reemerges when we least expect it.
Whether he wins bracelet number five or not, Huck Seed’s presence at the 2025 WSOP is already a win for poker.
Source pokernews.com
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