Eli Elezra
Encyclopedia
Eliahu Ilan Elezra is an Israel
i professional poker
player and a businessman, now living in Las Vegas
, Nevada
.
While he was in Israel, Elezra was a lieutenant
in the Golani Brigade
. He was bedridden by a leg injury; during this time he began playing poker. Before moving to Las Vegas, Elezra spent several years working in Alaska, prior to starting his career as a professional poker player.
Since moving to America
, Elezra has made numerous money finishes in the World Series of Poker
(WSOP) in Omaha, Texas Hold 'em
and Draw
events.
In July 2004, Elezra won the World Poker Tour
(WPT) $10,000 no limit
hold'em event at the 2004 Mirage Poker Showdown, where he won $1,024,574.
Elezra has played in "The Big Game
" in Vegas for many years. He appeared in the second and third seasons of the Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament
. He played in seasons 1-6 of GSN
series High Stakes Poker
.
According to an episode of the GSN show High Stakes Poker
that aired in 2006, Elezra donated $50,000 to complete a gym for his former military unit.
Elezra won his first bracelet by winning the World Championship Seven Card Stud Hi-Low in the 2007 World Series of Poker
after defeating Scotty Nguyen
heads-up.
Before the event Elezra had made a side bet with Barry Greenstein
laying 10:1 odds that he would win a World Series Bracelet in 2007. He had made the bet for $25,000 and collected $250,000 for his win, resulting in more money than the first place prize in the event that he won.
As of 2009, his total live tournament winnings exceed $1,900,000. His 18 cashes as the WSOP account for $565,805 of those winnings.
He became a Full Tilt
Pro after years of playing on the site and had his own H.O.R.S.E table.
In 2009, he appeared on several episodes of Poker After Dark
along with Doyle Brunson
and Gabe Kaplan
.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i professional poker
Poker
Poker is a family of card games that share betting rules and usually hand rankings. Poker games differ in how the cards are dealt, how hands may be formed, whether the high or low hand wins the pot in a showdown , limits on bet sizes, and how many rounds of betting are allowed.In most modern poker...
player and a businessman, now living in Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
.
While he was in Israel, Elezra was a lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in the Golani Brigade
Golani Brigade
The Golani Brigade is an Israeli infantry brigade that is subordinated to the 36th Division and traditionally associated with the Northern Command. Its symbol is a green tree on a yellow background, and its soldiers wear a brown beret. It is one of the most highly decorated infantry units in the...
. He was bedridden by a leg injury; during this time he began playing poker. Before moving to Las Vegas, Elezra spent several years working in Alaska, prior to starting his career as a professional poker player.
Since moving to America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Elezra has made numerous money finishes in the World Series of Poker
World Series of Poker
The World Series of Poker is a world-renowned series of poker tournaments held annually in Las Vegas and, since 2005, sponsored by Harrah's Entertainment...
(WSOP) in Omaha, Texas Hold 'em
Texas hold 'em
Texas Hold 'em is a variation of the standard card game of poker. The game consists of two cards being dealt face down to each player and then five community cards being placed face-up by the dealer—a series of three then two additional single cards , with...
and Draw
Draw poker
Draw poker is any poker variant in which each player is dealt a complete hand before the first betting round, and then develops the hand for later rounds by replacing, or "drawing", cards....
events.
In July 2004, Elezra won the World Poker Tour
World Poker Tour
The World Poker Tour is a series of international poker tournaments and associated television series broadcasting the final table of each tournament. It was started in the United States by attorney/television producer Steven Lipscomb, who served as CEO of WPT Enterprises , the firm that...
(WPT) $10,000 no limit
Betting (poker)
In the game of poker, the play largely centers on the act of betting, and as such, a protocol has been developed to speed up play, lessen confusion, and increase security while playing...
hold'em event at the 2004 Mirage Poker Showdown, where he won $1,024,574.
Elezra has played in "The Big Game
Big Game (poker)
The Big Game refers to a famous high-stakes poker ring game played in "Bobby's Room", a cardroom named after Bobby Baldwin, at the Bellagio casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The table features no-limit and pot-limit games with wagers up to $100,000 per hand...
" in Vegas for many years. He appeared in the second and third seasons of the Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament
Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament
The Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament is a series of no limit Texas hold 'em poker tournaments. The first season is available on NTSC DVD. It airs on Fox Sports Net in the United States, Rogers Sportsnet in Canada and ftn in the United Kingdom.-Crew:...
. He played in seasons 1-6 of GSN
Game Show Network
The Game Show Network is an American cable television and direct broadcast satellite channel dedicated to game shows and casino game shows. The channel was launched on December 1, 1994. Its current slogan is "The World Needs More Winners"...
series High Stakes Poker
High Stakes Poker
High Stakes Poker is a cash game poker television program broadcast by the cable television network GSN in the United States. The poker variant played on the show is no limit Texas hold 'em. It premiered on January 16, 2006 and ended on December 17, 2007 and it returns back on March 1, 2009 and is...
.
According to an episode of the GSN show High Stakes Poker
High Stakes Poker
High Stakes Poker is a cash game poker television program broadcast by the cable television network GSN in the United States. The poker variant played on the show is no limit Texas hold 'em. It premiered on January 16, 2006 and ended on December 17, 2007 and it returns back on March 1, 2009 and is...
that aired in 2006, Elezra donated $50,000 to complete a gym for his former military unit.
Elezra won his first bracelet by winning the World Championship Seven Card Stud Hi-Low in the 2007 World Series of Poker
2007 World Series of Poker
The 2007 World Series of Poker began on June 1, 2007. The $10,000 no-limit Texas hold 'em Main Event began on July 6 and was completed on the morning of July 18...
after defeating Scotty Nguyen
Scotty Nguyen
Thuận B. "Scotty" Nguyễn is a Vietnamese American professional poker player who is a five time World Series of Poker bracelet winner, most notably as the winner of the 1998 World Series of Poker Main Event and the 2008 WSOP $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. World Championship...
heads-up.
Before the event Elezra had made a side bet with Barry Greenstein
Barry Greenstein
Barry Greenstein is a professional poker player. He has won a number of major events, including three at the World Series of Poker and two on the World Poker Tour. Greenstein donates his profit from tournament winnings to charities, primarily Children, Incorporated, earning him the nickname "the...
laying 10:1 odds that he would win a World Series Bracelet in 2007. He had made the bet for $25,000 and collected $250,000 for his win, resulting in more money than the first place prize in the event that he won.
As of 2009, his total live tournament winnings exceed $1,900,000. His 18 cashes as the WSOP account for $565,805 of those winnings.
He became a Full Tilt
Full Tilt Poker
Full Tilt Poker is an online poker card room that opened in June 2004 with the involvement of poker professionals Howard Lederer, Phil Ivey, Andy Bloch, Mike Matusow, Jennifer Harman and Chris Ferguson...
Pro after years of playing on the site and had his own H.O.R.S.E table.
In 2009, he appeared on several episodes of Poker After Dark
Poker After Dark
Poker After Dark was an hour-long poker television program on NBC. The show made its debut on January 1, 2007, and was cancelled as another victim of the "Black Friday" criminal case due to the show's sponsorship by Full Tilt Poker, one of that case's defendants. on September 23, 2011 For its first...
along with Doyle Brunson
Doyle Brunson
Doyle F. Brunson is an American professional poker player who has played professionally for over 50 years. He is the first two-time World Series of Poker main event champion to win consecutively, a Poker Hall of Fame inductee, and the author of several books on poker.Brunson is the first player to...
and Gabe Kaplan
Gabe Kaplan
Gabriel W. "Gabe" Kaplan is an American comedian, actor, poker commentator, and professional poker player.He was born in Brooklyn, New York...
.
World Series of Poker bracelets
| Year | Tournament | Prize (US$) |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 2007 World Series of Poker The 2007 World Series of Poker began on June 1, 2007. The $10,000 no-limit Texas hold 'em Main Event began on July 6 and was completed on the morning of July 18... |
$3,000 World Championship Seven Card Stud Hi-Low | $198,984 |