Two-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner, Howard Lederer - also a two-time WPT champ - has been playing poker professionally for more than two decades. The New Hampshire native has won more than $5M in his career as a live tournament player, and closed out 2010 with a total of 10 first place finishes.

Oddly enough, it was a passion for chess that lead Howard to his current profession when he discovered a backroom poker game at the New York chess club that he frequented. Becoming obsessed with poker, Howard lost more than he won in those early days, and Lederer realized he would have to better manage his sleep and his approach to the game in order to improve his results.

When Howard Lederer began playing at the Mayfair Club, the friendly atmosphere and educational discussions among the players provided the whole group (which included Erik Seidel, Dan Harrington and Steve Zolotow) with a tremendous opportunity to evolve their poker skills. Near the end of the 1980s, Lederer was coaching his sister, Annie Duke, to help her improve her own results at the felt.

Eventually, Howard Lederer decided to move to Las Vegas in the early 1990s, concentrating mainly on cash games and WSOP tournaments. Lederer made numerous WSOP final tables throughout the years, but did not win his first WSOP bracelet until 2000 in the $5,000+$100 Limit Omaha Hi/Lo event that earned him nearly $200K.

Almost exactly one year to the day after receiving his first gold bracelet, Lederer landed his second WSOP win in the 2001 $5,000 No Limit Deuce to Seven Lowball event. The win provided a unique wedding gift for himself, as less than a month after gaining his second bracelet, Howard Lederer married the Bellagio's swing shift manager, Suzie Weiss.

In 2002, when the WPT began holding monthly tournaments, Howard Lederer further sharpened his tournament skills, and won the $10,000 No Limit Hold'em event in the WPT's first season at the World Poker Finals for $320K. His second WPT title came the following year in the PartyPoker Million II, and a prize of just under $264K.

In the course of his career, Howard Lederer has been knocked out of at least three WSOP events by his sister. In fact, the two became the first brother and sister to meet at a WSOP final table in event #10 of the 26th WSOP in 1995; Lederer busted out in 9th, while Annie managed to hold out for a 6th place exit.

Howard Lederer continues to live in Las Vegas with his wife and son. Both Howard and Suzie are very active within the poker community, and have hosted several fundraiser poker tournaments for charity.