Ryan Riess

Ryan Riess was born in East Lansing, Michigan, on June 21st, 1990. He is a known American poker player currently residing in Las Vegas, Nevada. With total live earnings amounting to $16,474,428 and his biggest cash reaching $8,361,570. Riess achieved poker stardom by winning the 2013 World Series of Poker Main Event, earning a remarkable $8,361,570 in the process.

Ryan Riess: Poker Career

Ryan Riess made a striking entrance into the poker scene by securing the 2nd position and winning $239,063 in the $1,675 No Limit Hold’em Main Event WSOP Circuit in Hammond on October 19th, 2012. His prowess continued on July 6th, 2013, at the $10,000 World Championship in No Limit Hold’em during the 44th World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, where he claimed the top spot, taking home an impressive $8,361,570.

Two years later, on April 14th, 2015, he dominated the $2,200 No Limit Hold’em Six Max at the World Poker Tour-WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown in Hollywood, securing the 1st position and earning $63,891. Moving forward to February 18th, 2016, he participated in the €10,300 No Limit Hold’em High Roller 8 Handed at the European Poker Tour in Dublin, finishing 6th and earning $102,778.

Also, on June 7th, 2017, he showcased his skills in the $10,000 No Limit Hold’em – Heads-Up Championship at the 48th World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, achieving 3rd place with earnings of $112,379. His most recent appearance was on January 13th, 2024, in the $5,100 No Limit Hold’em event at the PokerGO Tour in Las Vegas, where he secured the 7th position, earning $14,600. Ryan Riess has consistently demonstrated his poker prowess and remains a formidable player in the industry.

Ryan Riess: First Bracelet World Series of Poker

The 44th annual WSOP, featuring a $10,000 buy-in No-limit Texas Hold ’em World Championship, kicked off on July 6 with a diverse field of 6,352 players representing 83 countries. This massive turnout generated an impressive prize pool totaling $59,714,169. The tournament reached its climax as a Las Vegas resident dominated the competition, outshining the remaining players known as the “November Nine.”

Ryan Riess, a 23-year-old during that time, graduate from Michigan State emerged victorious, becoming the third native of the state to clinch the WSOP main event title. He follows in the footsteps of Cada, who secured the victory in 2009, and McEvoy, who achieved the feat in 1983. On July 6th, 2013, he then triumphed in the $10,000 World Championship – No Limit Hold’em at the 44th World Series of Poker held in Las Vegas, securing the top spot and winning $8,361,570.

Before his monumental win at the WSOP main event, Riess’ most significant tournament cash came from a WSOP Circuit event in Hammond, Ind. He finished as the runner-up, earning $239,063. Throughout the summer, he also notched three additional cashes in various WSOP events.