Our Verdict:
These days it seems every internet poker room is awash with savvy Swedes stealing your chips – but Erik Sagstrom, aka "Erik123", was at it before most of his compatriots knew what an online bad beat was.
23-year-old Sagstrom, from Linkoping, took up the game after browsing the internet aged 17. He signed up and immediately began establishing himself as one of the first online superstars.
Specialising in limit hold’em, Erik123 was at the biggest tables every week, regularly pulling down big prizes. His commitment to the game was so great that he became a high school drop-out to focus on his poker career instead. Such a lifestyle may be commonplace now but Erik123 was one of the first teenage poker boffins to make a living out of the game.
Erik123 (who also uses the names "The Salmon", "King of Ding" and is said to have a load more) didn’t play exclusively online – as his understanding of the game grew he started playing live games in clubs around Sweden and took part in his first live game outside his homeland in 2001. But he will also be feted for his pioneering internet play.
Top pro Howard ‘The Professor’ Lederer picked out Erik123 of the best young players in the world in 2003 and, soon afterwards, the youngster justified the plaudits. At the 2003 World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) Erik123 won the $300 no limit hold’em event ahead of 1,357 entrants to claim a first prize of $101,850. At the time it was the biggest prize pool for an online tournament ever.
His game has gone from strength to strength ever since. As well as limit hold’em, Erik123 also plays no limit hold’em, heads-up, shorthanded play and occasionally Omaha Hi-Lo.
On his penchant for limit hold’em, he says: “I’m better at it [than no limit] and there’s more action. I like that – I don’t wanna sit and wait for big hands.”
Last year Sagstrom played a series of three $200,000 limit texas hold’em heads-up games against female poker pro Lizzie Lieu at The Venetian in Las Vegas. The showdown came about because Sagstrom allegedly called Lieu a "fish" (in Swedish) during an online game. Lieu triumphed 2-1 – though Sagstrom is an accomplished player, having won more than $150,000 in live tournament play.
He remains extraordinarily successful online. It is estimated he wins more than $1 million a year, testament to the fact that he has proved hugely adapable since tens of thousands of newbies have joined him at the tables ever year since his debut.
Though only 23, Erik123 is considered a role model for aspiring online pros. His advice for anybody who wishes to follow in his footsteps is to take it easy.
“Poker will always be there, there’s no rush to get up in stakes. Start low and stay low until you feel secure enough to move up in stakes. Thenv you hae to try to be objective enough to see if you have a talent, and if not, maybe don’t take it too seriously.
"Play a lot of small buy-in tournaments and develop your own style. Stay aggressive and if y