Eli Elezra

Eli Elezra

Israeli poker player
Date of Birth: 24.11.1960
Country: USA

Content:
  1. Biography of Eli Elezra
  2. Early Life and Military Career
  3. Transition to Poker
  4. Poker Career
  5. Personal Life

Biography of Eli Elezra

Eli Elezra is an Israeli professional poker player, known for his poker skills and the possession of a WSOP championship bracelet. He was born Eliahu Ilan Elezra in 1960 in Jerusalem, Israel.

Eli Elezra

Early Life and Military Career

Elezra grew up in Israel and after completing school, he joined the army. Despite his dream of becoming a commando, he was assigned to the Airborne Corps. Resisting the orders, he refused to comply and was briefly imprisoned. However, his military career eventually aligned with his aspirations as he served as an officer in the elite special forces Golani Brigade. Elezra participated in combat missions and in 1982, he suffered a serious leg injury that ended his military service.

Eli Elezra

Transition to Poker

By that time, Elezra was aware of his exceptional poker talent and decided to pursue a career in the game. Before fully committing to poker, he initially ventured into business. He moved to Alaska in the United States and worked as a taxi driver while playing poker in his free time. Eventually, Elezra opened a store in Alaska, selling various goods. In the late 1980s, he moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, where he opened a small film company. With his entrepreneurial skills, Elezra diversified his investments and established a successful chain of stores and an entertainment complex.

Eli Elezra

Poker Career

Elezra started participating in major tournaments relatively late in life, when he was almost 40 years old. Prior to that, he wanted to ensure the financial security of his family before risking significant losses. In 1999, he reached the final table of the WSOP Main Event and finally claimed the coveted championship bracelet in 2007 by winning the Seven Card Stud Hi-Low event. Elezra is known for his philanthropy, as he donated his $50,000 prize from the High Stakes Poker tournament in 2006 to build a gymnasium for his former Israeli military unit.

Eli Elezra

Personal Life

Elezra is married to Hila and they have five children, with their daughter being the youngest. He prioritizes his family, business, and friends before poker. Known for his humor and easygoing attitude, Elezra advises novice players to develop patience and start playing online with low stakes before transitioning to live games with higher stakes. He uses the online alias 'eps' and was a member of the 'Full Tilt Pro' team. As of 2012, Elezra's total tournament winnings amounted to $2,100,000. He currently resides in Las Vegas with his family.

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