Poker Player - Eli Elezra
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Eli Elezra’s nickname is Mr. Vegas, and for good reason.
The former Israeli soldier has made himself at home in Vegas, first as a businessman, then as a poker pro.
Elezra is one of the most recognizable players in poker. He has long been one of the top cash game players in the world, often playing in the Bellagio’s big game.
He has also established himself as a world class tournament player. He has a World Poker Tour title to his credit, winning the 2004 WPT Mirage Poker Showdown, earning over $1 million.
He has cashed in 12 World Series of Poker events, and won his first WSOP bracelet in 2007. Elezra won a heads-up showdown with Scotty Nguyen in the Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo. Elezra and Nguyen clearly enjoyed themselves, as the alcohol flowed freely when the two got to heads up, and it was more like a home game than a WSOP event.
Elezra emerged with the bracelet. He also picked up $250,000 on a side bet with Barry Greenstein that he would win a bracelet in 2007.
Elezra took up poker when he was injured in Israel. He increased his play when he came to Vegas, and was famous for gambling. Elezra is featured often on High Stakes Poker, where his considerable cash game talents are often put on display.
Mr. Vegas usually stays in town for his poker. He leads a very balanced life, running several major companies, playing big games at the Bellagio and taking care of his family, which includes five children. Elezra has it all together. Like many poker pros, he was very successful in something else before coming to poker.
According to Cardplayer, Elezra has this to say: "I have a fine line between my family, my poker, and my business," he stated. "That is why I am so happy in my life. People always think that I am a professional poker player. I say, 'No, no, no.' When they find out I have five kids, they say, 'When do you have time for all this?'"
Discipline is a big key, something Elezra developed in Israel.
In his home country, Elezra was a member of the Golani unit, a Special Forces group in the Israeli army. He traveled around the world, starting various businesses. He finally started a one-hour photo shop in Las Vegas, and it took off. Quickly, he had several more stores.
He reinvested while he was learning to play poker at the higher levels. His businesses took off, and his poker game did too. He bought real estate, clubs. He turned very little money into a huge fortune.
Elezra is one of the driving forces behind The Big Game at the Bellagio, where limits are often $4,000-$8,000 and some of the biggest names in the world sit down to play poker. Elezra plays often with Phil Ivey, Doyle Brunson, some of the biggest names in poker, and he holds his own quite well.
Elezra is one of the most successful businessmen in Vegas, and his skills have translated well to poker. He manages his money in poker like a business, and he has been successful with it.
Elezra is popular on televised poker because of his charm and willingness to show off some of his personality. Despite his success, he is a hard working player, and enjoys playing with the best in order to improve his game.
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