Mystery online poker player akes a $600k hit

02/23/2008

Prominent online poker message board 2+2.com was abuzz this week as pokerheads speculated on the identity of high-stakes gambler 'seda1'. The reason for the interest is a widely discussed 6 hour online session of $500/$1 000 No-Limit Hold'em against international ace Phil Ivey that left "seda1" with a $600 000 deficit.

Remarkably, that first session led to another online clash between the two, going head-to-head in a further multi-hour session at Ivey's own personal heads-up Deathmatch table at Full Tilt Poker.com, reports the information site Poker Listings.

Second time round, the high roller did a lttle better it appears, taking a $195 000 pot of his own, miraculously hitting a set on the turn despite getting all-in behind on the flop. However, although totals for the second session have yet to be determined, Ivey took the lion's share of the biggest pots - including the biggest, for $251 935.

The [unconfirmed] consensus on 2+2 appears to be that "seda1" is a wealthy amateur poker player from Beverly Hills named Shawn Sedaghat, about whom the poker sector will probably be hearing more.