| Eli Elezra אלי אלעזרא | |
|---|---|
 Eli Elezra in 2018 | |
| Nickname(s) | Mr. Vegas,[1] Wizard |
| Born | (1960-11-24)24 November 1960 (age 65) |
| World Series of Poker | |
| Bracelets | 5 |
| Final tables | 21 |
| Money finishes | 75[2] |
| Highest WSOP Main Event finish | 107th,2011 |
| World Poker Tour | |
| Title | 1 |
| Final table | 1 |
| Money finishes | 5[3] |
Eliahu Ilan Elezra[4] (Hebrew:אלי אלעזרא; born 24 November 1960, inJerusalem) is an Israeli professionalpoker player and businessman, now living inLas Vegas,Nevada. With fiveWSOP bracelets and aWPT win in the postMoneymaker era, he is one of the most successful players since thepoker boom.[5]
Since moving toAmerica, Elezra has had more than 70 money finishes in theWSOP inOmaha,Texas Hold 'em andDraw events. In July 2004, Elezra won theWPT 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 thePoker Superstars Invitational Tournament. Elezra came known to the big public when he played in seasons 1–6 of the legendaryGSN seriesHigh Stakes Poker and has appeared on several episodes ofPoker After Dark.[7][8] He also was aFull Tilt Pro.[9]
Elezra won his first bracelet by winning the World Championship Seven Card Stud Hi-Low in the2007 WSOP after defeatingScotty Nguyen heads-up.[10] Before the event, Elezra had made a side bet withBarry 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 theWSOP account for over $3,000,000 of those winnings.[2]
Elezra released a biography about his life and career in poker in March 2017 entitledPoker Legend. The book was co-written by professional Israeli poker players Matan Krakow and Yoav Ronal. The book was translated into English by Robbie Strazynski and published byTwo Plus Two Publishing under the titlePulling the Trigger in January 2019.[13][14]
Elezra was inducted into thePoker Hall of Fame in 2021.[15]
| Year | Tournament | Prize (US$) |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Eli 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.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
