Solid your thoughts again to the 2013 World Collection of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas. A fresh-faced Michigan native by the identify of Ryan Riess left 6,351 opponents in his wake within the $10,000 Principal Occasion as he turned poker’s world champion and acquired a life-changing $8,361,570 rating. Though Riess was a relative unknown again then, he is since blossomed into one in every of stay poker’s most revered grinders, racking up an extra $8 million in cashes, together with a World Poker Tour (WPT) title.
Quick-forward to the 2025 WSOP, and David Tuchman picked up the 2013 Principal Occasion champ in his automobile and chatted with him throughout 888poker’s enlightening 888Ride section.
When Riess received the Principal Occasion, he was recent out of school and had simply began taking part in poker full-time. At present, he is an completed poker participant and a father in his 30s.
“A lot has modified. Again then, I had graduated from faculty in December 2012, so six months earlier than the World Collection of Poker (WSOP) began. So to go from being a university child to taking part in poker full-time after which successful the Principal Occasion throughout my first WSOP is fairly loopy to suppose again on it, to be trustworthy.”
Riess advised Tuchman that, after triumphing within the 2013 WSOP Principal Occasion, he thought poker was going to be simple and believed he would rapidly win 4 extra bracelets. That hasn’t occurred but, which Riess places right down to naivety at first of his profession.
“I used to be very naive, too. However once you win rather a lot and are very profitable at your first WSOP, you sort of should be naive. As a result of all is you performed it as soon as, you received a bunch, and suppose that is simple, I ought to do it on a regular basis, but it surely’s not fairly that simple!”
Throughout his 2013 post-victory interviews, Riess famously declared, “I simply suppose I am the most effective participant on this planet.” Clearly, regardless of changing into our sport’s world champion, he wasn’t, and Tuchman pulled him up on this assertion.
“I believe it is actually necessary to have that mentality. Draymond Inexperienced (an NBA star), who additionally went to Michigan State, had an excellent interview about having that mentality as a result of he as soon as mentioned he is the most effective defender on this planet in basketball. And an interviewer requested what provides you the arrogance to say that? He principally mentioned that it’s important to have the mentality that you are the finest or else you’ve got already misplaced.”
“In poker, for those who sit at a desk and imagine that the opposite individuals are higher than you, you most likely should not even sit down. It’s important to have the mentality that you are the finest or at the very least that you may compete with them on that degree. If you happen to sit down and suppose that these individuals are all higher than me, I am not going to defend my huge blind in opposition to him as a result of he is too good, you should not even be taking part in.”
Riess headed into the 2013 WSOP Principal Occasion fifth in chips, inserting him in the midst of the pack. Tuchman requested the bracelet winner what’s technique was. Was it to ladder up the payouts or go all out for the win?
“For me, it was simply to take one hand at a time and play every hand the most effective I may. I actually wasn’t taking a look at payouts that a lot. I imply, again then, ICM wasn’t as a lot of a factor as it’s now; there weren’t solvers or something. I actually simply needed to win.”
Though supremely assured in his capacity, the then-young Riess admitted that he was scared as the largest ultimate desk of his life approached.
“The morning of the ultimate desk, my feelings introduced me to tears as a result of it was extra of like a nervousness as a result of that is what each poker participant needs. I began to get scared as a result of I did not need something to go the incorrect manner. Fortunately, when the ultimate desk began, I busted my good friend Mark Newhouse with ace-king in opposition to nines, and that sort of calmed the nerves.”
Riess admitted that issues may have gone in another way had he misplaced that coin flip as a result of it could have left him nursing the shortest stack. He confirmed his humble facet, stating,” I used to be very glad to run good. I believe most individuals, in the event that they received my card distribution on the ultimate desk, would have received; I imply, I received all of the flips!”
Towards the latter phases of the 18-minute interview, Tuchman and Riess focus on the totally different approaches Riess takes when taking part in lower-stakes tournaments or excessive rollers. Riess revealed his favorite stake is $10,000 because it has a stability of fine regulars and leisure gamers taking pictures. Moreover, he advised Tuchman that he prefers to maintain a big share of himself each time he performs.
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“It is necessary when taking part in poker to take the stakes out of it; it is rather a lot simpler mentioned than completed, particularly once you’re taking part in for prime stakes. On the finish of the day, it is nonetheless poker. One of the best gamers distance themselves from the sum of money they’re taking part in for, they usually simply attempt to make the most effective choices on each avenue.”
“Within the huge buy-ins, you play extra of a GTO method since you’re taking part in in opposition to different gamers who’re all sort of making an attempt to play good. The place within the smaller buy-ins, you are taking part in in opposition to leisure gamers, and you may play very exploitively as a result of you do not have to be balanced in opposition to them. In case you have an excellent hand, wager huge; in case you have a weak hand, wager small; it is sort of so simple as that in a manner.”
Earlier than Tuchman dropped off Riess on the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas, he posed Riess a troublesome query. Riess is an enormous Detroit Lions fan and was requested, if the cash was taken away, would Riess quite win the Principal Occasion once more or see his beloved Lions win the Tremendous Bowl? Watch the video to seek out out Riess’ reply!
Matthew Pitt
Senior Editor
