Eli Elezra - Biography

Eliahu Ilan Elezra (born November 24, 1960 in Jerusalem) is an Israeli 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.

World Series of Poker bracelets

Notes

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External links

• World Poker Tour Profile
• CardPlayer Magazine article