Eliahu Ilan Elezra[4] (Hebrew: אלי אלעזרא; born 24 November 1960, in Jerusalem) is an Israeli professional poker player and businessman, now living in Las Vegas, Nevada. With five WSOP bracelets and a WPT win in the post Moneymaker era, he is one of the most successful players since the poker boom.[5]
| Eli Elezra | |
|---|---|
 Eli Elezra in 2018 | |
| Nickname(s) | Mr. Vegas,[1] Wizard |
| Residence | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Born | 24 November 1960 |
| World Series of Poker | |
| Bracelet(s) | 5 |
| Final table(s) | 21 |
| Money finish(es) | 75[2] |
| Highest ITM Main Event finish | 107th, 2011 |
| World Poker Tour | |
| Title(s) | 1 |
| Final table(s) | 1 |
| Money finish(es) | 5[3] |
Since moving to America, Elezra has had more than 70 money finishes in the WSOP in Omaha, Texas Hold 'em and Draw events. In July 2004, Elezra won the WPT Mirage Poker Showdown, where he collected $1,024,574 for his efforts.[6] Elezra has played in "The Big Game" in Vegas for many years. He appeared in the second and third season of the Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament. Elezra came known to the big public when he played in seasons 1–6 of the legendary GSN series High Stakes Poker and has appeared on several episodes of Poker After Dark.[7][8] He also was a Full Tilt Pro.[9]
Elezra won his first bracelet by winning the World Championship Seven Card Stud Hi-Low in the 2007 WSOP after defeating Scotty Nguyen heads-up.[10] 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 bet $25,000 and collected $250,000, resulting in more money than the first place prize in the event that he won.[11]
As of 2022, his total live tournament winnings exceed $5,000,000.[12] His cashes at the WSOP account for over $3,000,000 of those winnings.[2]
Elezra released a biography about his life and career in poker in March 2017 entitled Poker Legend. The book was co-written by professional Israeli poker players Matan Krakow and Yoav Ronal. The book was translated into English by Robbie Strazynski and published by Two Plus Two Publishing under the title Pulling the Trigger in January 2019.[13][14]
Elezra was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2021.[15]
World Series of Poker bracelets
edit| Year | Tournament | Prize (US$) |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | $3,000 World Championship Seven Card Stud Hi-Low | $198,984 |
| 2013 | $2,500 2–7 Triple Draw Lowball (Limit) | $173,236 |
| 2015 | $1,500 Seven Card Stud | $112,591 |
| 2019 | $1,500 Seven Card Stud | $93,766 |
| 2022 | $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship | $611,362 |
Personal life
editEli Elezra served in one of the Israeli Defense Force's Golani Brigades. During his time in the army, he served time in an Israeli prison for disobeying military orders.[16]
He was discharged after he sustained a leg injury in the 1982 Lebanon War.
Later, he moved to the USA where he first began to work in the fish industry in Alaska, before making his way to Las Vegas to become the owner of a successful film-developing business in 1988.[17] It was thanks to this venture that he started to enter the poker scene.
References
edit- ^ Lindberg, Bjorne (28 October 2022). "Eli Elezra - Poker Player Profile". PokerListings. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
- ^ a b "Eli Elezra". WSOP.com. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
- ^ "Eli Elezra". World Poker Tour. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
- ^ US Search "Eli Elezra"[dead link]
- ^ Richards, Connor (2 July 2022). "Poker Hall of Famer Eli Elezra Wins Fifth WSOP Bracelet in $10K PLO-8 Championship ($611,362)". PokerNews.com. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
- ^ "2004 Mirage Poker Showdown, No Limit Hold'em Final Day". The Hendon Mob Poker Database. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
- ^ "Poker After Dark (PAD) Season II, Week 8 - Mega Match". The Hendon Mob Poker Database. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
- ^ "Poker After Dark (PAD) Season III, Week 7 - Jam Up Week". The Hendon Mob Poker Database. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
- ^ Eli Elezra's Full Tilt page Archived 5 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "38th World Series of Poker - WSOP 2007, World Championship Seven Card Stud Hi-Low Split-8 or Better". The Hendon Mob Poker Database. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
- ^ "2007 World Series of Poker: Event 24 - $3,000 World Championship 7-Card Stud Hi/Lo - Final". Poker Pages. 16 June 2007. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007.
- ^ "Eli Elezra's profile on The Hendon Mob". The Hendon Mob Poker Database. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
- ^ Peckaitis, Tadas (17 June 2021). "What Ever Happened To Eli Elezra?". Casino.org. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
- ^ Strazynski, Robbie (7 March 2017). "Eli Elezra Launches Biography with Tel Aviv Book Signing". Cardplayer Lifestyle. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
- ^ Sofen, Jon (17 November 2021). "Eli Elezra Selected as 2021 Poker Hall of Fame Inductee". PokerNews.com. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
- ^ "Eli Elezra: Poker Results, Memorable Hands & Unpaid Debts". Upswing Poker. 30 April 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
- ^ "Eli Elezra's Life: Biggest Profits, Losses and Net Worth". Somuchpoker. 28 July 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2020.