A card player since the age of six, Ohio’s Ryan Elson started playing Hold’em only at the turn of the century. He began taking poker more seriously, starting 2004 by playing a couple of times each month with friends.
An agent with Bankers Life and Casualty, Elson always dreamt of playing at the World Series of Poker, but coming up with buy-in money remained an obstacle, until he started a poker league with 22 others in his hometown. With $600 as contribution from each league participant, the league went on for approximately 10 months, at the end of which, Ryan Elson emerged the winner, winning the pot that covered the $10,000 entry fee to the World Series of Poker main event and an additional $2,000 for travel and other expenses.
Strongly supported by his wife, daughter, close family and friends, Elson headed to Vegas for the 38th World Series of Poker in Las Vegas in July 2007. A newcomer to the glitz of poker’s biggest annual extravaganza, Ryan Elson at first was overawed by the presence of eight-time WSOP winner Eric Seidel. But it didn’t take Elson long to play his cards well, steadily making his way through the field of 6,358 in the $10,000 No Limit Hold'em World Championship. With a bit of luck and some clever moves, Elson surprised many by making it to the last 621, ensuring an in-the-money finish and a minimum of $20,000.
However, Ryan Elson continued on and with the main title contenders - Jamie Gold, Joe Hachem, Greg Raymer, Phil Helmuth and Doyle Brunson - eliminated, his chances of moving further in the event grew stronger. Elson’s dream run came to an end when he was eliminated in 24th place and within sniffing distance of the final table. For his impressive performance, Ryan Elson took home $333,490 of the mammoth $ 59,784,954 prize pool.
