One of poker's brightest new stars shined for all to see during the 2006
World Poker Tour Championship at Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Erica "The Poker Princess" Schoenberg took a major step toward solidifying her reputation as one of poker's new breed of tournament specialists by finishing 16th in a field of 606 players, outlasting many of the game's biggest names.
Schoenberg has stunning looks, a mathematician's logic, the support of one of poker's up-and-coming international business giants, and a superstar poker player boyfriend. Some might say she has it all, and in essence, this down-to-earth starlet really does.
Born in Akron, Ohio, and growing up in a small town, Schoenberg spent her early years like most kids in the Midwest - waiting to get out. A formidable high-school athlete, Schoenberg longed for a different environment and got her wish when she moved to Charleston, South Carolina, to attend college.
Eventually she missed her family and moved back to Ohio, but it wasn't long before she once again felt the need to venture off into the unknown. This time, she landed in New York City and began pursuing acting and modeling jobs. After about a year, she moved west to California. While playing part-time professional volleyball, Schoenberg would eventually run into a member of the infamous MIT blackjack team. This fortuitous meeting would forever change her future.
With her new friends from the world of blackjack, Schoenberg saw a different life and was soon caught up in the rush of being on a blackjack team and beating the house. "That was a crazy time. I was so excited to do it. It was the first time that I was able to really apply my love of mathematics and make money doing it. It was so much cooler than modeling or acting. I wasn't really being challenged mentally in those jobs. When I met these guys, it reawakened a part of my brain that hadn't been used in a long time. It sharpened that mathematical gambling acumen that I think is so important to have in cards, whether it's poker or blackjack. Eventually, it put me on my path to poker."
Schoenberg's card and gambling prowess earned her a seat on
GSN's television show
The World Series of Blackjack. She made it deep into the show, but saw her blackjack career come to a close when she started being recognized by casino pit bosses.
Fortunately for her, she was ready to move on to a new set of challenges and decided that poker was the way to go.
A little bit further down the road, the people at GSN came calling once again. This time, however, they wanted Erica to play poker.
Little did she know that she would be making her professional poker television debut against the likes of Scott Fischman, David Williams, and Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi.
After getting crushed by her competition on the show, Schoenberg's intense drive took over and she began making moves to improve her game. "I'm so competitive, and I can't stand to lose, so that just made me want to understand the game even more. From that point on, I knew I wanted to dominate the table the way David and Michael did."
Schoenberg immediately undertook the arduous journey of becoming a seasoned poker professional, challenging herself to master yet another talent. According to Schoenberg, unlike blackjack, poker is much more of a skill game. "Learning the game of poker can take a lifetime. That's one of the best things about the game."
It wasn't long before
Poker Dome sponsor
MANSIONPoker decided to capitalize on Schoenberg's marketability, selecting her as a player representative for the new international poker website and tournament series taking place in Las Vegas. The ever-humble Schoenberg is aware of how coveted a premium poker sponsorship is, and is thankful for the chance to represent the company.
"A lot of people go through their lives not knowing passion for something. It's so hard to describe, but when you're given the chance to do something that you're passionate about, you have to run with it."
On the fast track to poker success, Schoenberg is taking advantage of her surroundings and supporters, gaining valuable pieces of poker knowledge. In addition to receiving financial support from
MANSION, Schoenberg has received an insider's insight into the minds of some of the best players in the game, thanks to her boyfriend, David Benyamine, a
WPT titleholder.
In addition to being a top tournament player himself, Benyamine plays at the highest stakes Las Vegas has to offer, and Schoenberg has made sure to pay attention when her man is at the felt with the likes of Doyle Brunson, Chip Reese, and Eli Elezra. "A lot of the players in the 'big game' at Bellagio have helped me - not so much by telling me what to do, but by my watching their play. Watching these guys in action is the best education you could ever get."
After finishing 16th in the
WPT Championship, Schoenberg proved she could hang with the big boys of the tournament arena. Her results, however, left her a little dazed. "I was mentally exhausted. It was a weird feeling of elation, and yet I was so bummed. I really thought I was going to make the final table. I was so excited to make it so deep into one of the toughest tournaments on the planet. It has helped my confidence so much, but I'm still working on my game with David. We're doing some fine-tuning and tweaking of my game so that I'll be ready for future tournaments."
Despite being beautiful, intelligent, and charming, not to mention sponsored, Schoenberg has kept a level head. "I guess my family helps me keep it real. My two younger brothers, Matt and Alex, think they are better than me in poker, and they have a lot to say when I bust out of tournaments. No one can call you a donkey like one of your family members. They definitely keep me in check."
All in all, Schoenberg fits her nickname perfectly. This "poker princess" is on the high road to poker stardom, and with her big heart, she's bound to make a lot of friends along the way.
