Erica Schoenberg biography
Erica Schoenberg was born on March 25, 1978, in Akron, Ohio, and first made a name for herself not in poker but in blackjack, joining the legendary MIT Blackjack Team's card-counting operation before a strong runner-up finish in the 2005 World Series of Blackjack earned her the nickname "Blackjack Babe." She transitioned to poker soon afterward, entering the public eye through appearances on the 2005 "Strip Poker Invitational" and GSN's "Poker Royale: Young Bloods," and picking up early sponsorships from Mansion Poker and Full Tilt.
By her own admission she "was not very good" when she started, but steadily improved through extensive online play, converting that development into a strong 2006-2008 live tournament run that included a title at the Mandalay Bay Poker Championship and a career-best 3rd-place finish worth $261,646 at a 2007 WSOP $1,500 event. Before and alongside her poker career, Schoenberg also worked as a model, beach volleyball player, and personal trainer, building a media profile that extended well beyond the tournament felt.
Career summary
A former MIT Blackjack Team member turned poker professional with over $860,000 in career earnings, highlighted by a 3rd-place finish worth $261,646 at a 2007 WSOP event, after transitioning from advantage-play blackjack to the tournament felt.
Erica Schoenberg poker winnings
| Year | Event | Place | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Mandalay Bay Poker Championship $2,500 No-Limit Hold'em | 1st | $105,875 |
| 2008 | WPT Ladies Event | 2nd (behind Vanessa Selbst) | Approximately $15,000 |
| 2007 | WSOP $1,500 No-Limit Hold'emcareer-largest live cash | 3rd | $261,646 |
| 2006 | Five-Star World Poker Classic $25,000 WPT Championship | 16th | $117,165 |
Verified live tournament earnings: $860,342.
2005 - World Series of Blackjack - 2nd (earning the "Blackjack Babe" nickname)
Erica Schoenberg playing style
A self-described late bloomer who improved steadily through high-volume online play after an inauspicious start, applying the discipline and probability instincts of her blackjack card-counting background to tournament poker.
Cash games
Not known as a regular in tracked high-stakes live cash games; her career results are concentrated in tournament play.
Business & sponsorships
A former member of the famed MIT Blackjack Team before transitioning to poker; also worked as a model, beach volleyball player, and personal trainer, and appeared on GSN's "Poker Royale: Young Bloods" and the "Strip Poker Invitational."
Why Erica matters
A former MIT Blackjack Team member nicknamed the "Blackjack Babe" who parlayed a background in advantage-play card counting into a respected career at the poker table, admitting she was "not very good" when she started before grinding her way to live tournament success.
FAQ about Erica Schoenberg
How did Erica Schoenberg get the nickname "Blackjack Babe"?
She earned it after finishing runner-up in the 2005 World Series of Blackjack, a result that followed her earlier career as a member of the well-known MIT Blackjack Team before she transitioned into professional poker.
What was Erica Schoenberg's biggest live tournament result?
Her career-best cash came in 2007, when she finished 3rd in a WSOP $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em event for $261,646, the largest single score of her tournament career.
How much has Erica Schoenberg won playing poker?
Erica Schoenberg has won $860,342 in live tournament earnings.
How many WSOP bracelets does Erica Schoenberg have?
Erica Schoenberg has not won a WSOP bracelet yet.