Soren Eriksen

Soren Eriksen, a Danish-born player residing in Blenheim, New Zealand, achieved notable success in the New Zealand Poker Championships (NZPC). In 2009, he won the NZPC Main Event against a field of 102 players, earning NZ$100,000 after defeating defending champion David Borg in a heads-up duel. The following year, he successfully defended his title in the 2010 NZPC Main Event, winning NZ$60,000 and becoming the first player in the tournament's 12-year history to win back-to-back titles. He also cashed in the 2008 Asia Pacific Poker Tour Auckland event, finishing 15th for USD $7,711.

Eriksen used his poker winnings to help fund his passion for brewing. In 2008, he left his job as a biochemist researching sea urchin protein profiles at the University of Auckland to work at Renaissance Brewing in Blenheim. In October 2010, he launched his own label, 8 Wired Brewing, operating as a contract brewer using his employer's equipment. His beer "The Big Smoke" won a gold medal at the BrewNZ awards. Eriksen and his wife Monique also launched a boutique ale in Blenheim.

Despite his poker achievements, Eriksen never aspired to become a professional poker player, stating, "I never wanted to be a professional poker player because it's not a very nice environment." He preferred a family-oriented life and focused on building his brewing business, which he found more compatible with his values and lifestyle.