Ryan Riess Captures WSOP Title Dominating Heads Up Opponent Jay farber
About a year ago, Ryan Riess decided to take his shot and play in the World Series of Poker Circuit Main Event in Hammond. The former poker dealer and Michigan State University student defied the odds to navigate a field of 1,523 entries and end up heads-up with Joshua Williams for the ring and more than $385,000.
It felt like the accomplishment of a lifetime for Riess at the time, but fast forward just one year later and it pales in comparison with what he pulled off at the Penn and Teller Theater at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino tonight—defeating Jay Farber to win the WSOP Main Event, the most coveted bracelet in the game, and $8,361,570.
For Riess, the win is a dream ten years in the making. “”I’ve been dreaming about it for a long time, ever since I was 14 and saw [Chris] Moneymaker win it,” Riess said shortly after his victory. In a year when Moneymaker drew a lot of attention for his win ten years ago, Riess’ journey from poker dealer to Circuit grinder to Main Event Champion is particularly fitting.
