Erick Lindgren first found fame in 2003, winning his first WPT title followed by a second one five months later. It made him a big star, but his place in the firmament was beginning to slip somewhat heading into 2008. He was becoming more renowned for high-stakes prop bets and playboy partying than world-class poker playing.

But this has proven to be his comeback year, and the man dubbed ‘the best player never to have won a bracelet’ finally laid some demons to rest with victory in the $5k limit/no-limit hold’em event. He followed this with two final tables, including third in the $50k H.O.R.S.E.