Eli Elezra

Who is Eli Elezra?

Eliahu Ilan Elezra is an Israeli professional poker player and 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 had numerous money finishes in the World Series of Poker in Omaha, Texas Hold 'em and Draw events. In July 2004, Elezra won the World Poker Tour $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. In 2009, he appeared on several episodes of Poker After Dark along with Doyle Brunson and Gabe Kaplan.

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 bet $25,000 and collected $250,000, resulting in more money than the first place prize in the event that he won.