After outlasting 6,352 players, MSU alumnus Ryan Riess will be returning to Las Vegas in the fall as part of the November Nine in the 2013 World Series of Poker, or WSOP.
Each member of the November Nine received $733,224 and will go on to play at the main event table, scheduled for Nov. 4-5, where players stand to win the final prize of $8.3 million.
Each year, players from around the world come to compete for millionaire status. Riess will be the second player from Michigan in 5 years to make it to the World Series of Poker main event final table.
Joe Cada of Shelby Township won the WSOP main event in 2009 for a payout of $8.5 million.
Riess could not be reached for comment, but tweeted the following on Tuesday: “One word: YES.”
At 23 years old, Riess is the youngest player at the final table. He has over $300,000 in live tournament cashes. Riess will enter the final event fifth overall in chips at 25.875 million.
Entering the final event at No. 1 with 38 million chips, is JC Tran, who has the won the WSOP bracelet twice.
Before doubling up a couple times, Riess placed 16th overall in chips with 18 players remaining.
After eliminating Rep Porter in 12th place, he reached the No. 5 spot.
After Riess entered a poker tournament at Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Ind., where he won $239,063 in October 2013, he paid $10,000 to enter the 2013 WSOP tournament, where he now has the chance to become a millionaire overnight.
He also won $20,015 for an 11th place finish at the $1,000 WSOP no-limit hold ‘em event at the Rio in June.
The main event is scheduled for Nov. 4-5 at Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
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