Eric Hicks

Eric Hicks is an American professional poker and chess player based in Scottsdale, Arizona. He has built a successful career as the Founder and CEO of Luna Cycles, an electric bicycle company, and Academics Chess, a leading educational website for chess. With an impressive track record in live poker tournaments, his earnings exceed $401.1K with a single cash prize of $101,513.

Hicks launched his YouTube channel, “fastelectricbike2,” on October 25th, 2007, which has since gained a loyal following of over 1.74K subscribers. He has also appeared on Bally Live Poker.

From Dropout to Chess Champion

Eric Hicks struggled to focus in school, ultimately dropping out of high school with a low GPA. However, he found his passion and talent in chess tournaments, rising to become one of the top 100 players in the US for his age group. This unexpected success gave Eric the confidence and motivation to turn his life around, leading him to enroll in junior college and eventually earn a degree with honors from University of California, Berkeley, While pursuing his studies at Berkeley, Eric began teaching chess to inner-city elementary school students using a novel approach.

Eric transitioned to the private sector, working at a software design company. However, he eventually returned to his passion for teaching chess, this time expanding his scope to instruct entire student bodies. In 1994, Eric founded Academic Chess, which has since grown to serve over 200 schools in California, Nevada, and Utah, providing chess instruction to over 100,000 elementary students.

Eric Hicks’ Wild Ride to the WSOP Main Event

Eric Hicks arrived in Las Vegas early to play in the 2018 WSOP Main Event, but he was surprised to discover that the tournament didn’t start until Monday. Instead of waiting around, he decided to make the most of his weekend.

He initially entered the $888 Lucky Eights event, but before being eliminated, he decided to take a chance and join the online $215 WSOP Main Event Scramble on WSOP.com. This satellite guaranteed 25 seats to the Main Event, and Hicks’s decision proved to be a winning one. In a surprising and unconventional move, he won his $10,000 seat to the tournament while drunk, riding an electric scooter, and bar hopping in Las Vegas, all while playing the satellite on his iPad.

Eric Hicks’ Poker Journey on Bally Live Poker

Eric Hicks debuted on March 3rd, 2024, in BLP Episode 42. He dropped a staggering $62,600 after sitting with Matt Berkey, Curtis Meeks, Barry Woods, and others. They played a $50/100 ($200) No Limit Hold ’em game.

Eric Hicks: Live Tournament Participation

Hicks has accumulated a substantial amount of earnings, exceeding $401.1K, from his live tournament participation. His first live cash was in March 2005, when he participated in a $2,000 + 80 No Limit Hold’em Event at the Rio Las Vegas Poker Festival, held in Las Vegas. He finished in 10th place, earning $4,915 in prize money.

One of Hicks’ most notable accomplishments was his victory in the $3,000 Pot Limit Omaha 6 Handed Event at the 48th WSOP in Las Vegas, which took place in June 2017. He finished in 4th place earning $101,513.

In April 2024, Eric participated in a live tournament, entering the $160 No Limit Hold’em Event at the 2024 Talking Stick Monthly End of the Month in Scottsdale. He secured 31st place, earning a cash prize of $310.

Conclusion

Eric Hicks’ journey reflects the spirit of entrepreneurship, academic achievement, and a love for poker and chess. It’s the story of someone who went from being a dropout to becoming a CEO, demonstrating remarkable adaptability and success along the way. His record-breaking poker earnings are a testament to his unwavering determination. Hicks inspires others with his unique mix of business savvy and adventurousness, showing that embracing passions and taking risks can lead to extraordinary accomplishments.