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In the Detroit area, specifically Lake Orion, resides Ryan Hiller, a skilled poker player who has achieved professional status. As of 2022, he holds the highest position in tournament earnings on BetMGM Poker MI. Notably, Hiller secured his very first World Series of Poker bracelet during the WSOP MI online bracelet series, which took place over June and July.
Hiller, now 26 years old, began his journey as a player when he reached the age of 18. In 2018, he ventured into online gaming and amidst the pandemic in 2020, he made the bold decision to relocate to Atlantic City. Leaving behind his insurance sales job, he chose to pursue his lifelong aspiration of becoming a professional player, motivated by the fact that online poker is permitted in the state of New Jersey, also known as the Garden State.
Despite his family’s concerns, he firmly believed that he would never be able to forgive himself if he passed up the opportunity to take the shot. Fast forward two years, and Hiller is still actively playing in his professional career. Not only that, but he has returned to his home state of Michigan and just had the most financially successful summer of his entire career.
Playinmichigan recently caught up with Hiller to discuss his recent successes and the overall Michigan online poker scene, as six more bracelet events are set to take place on Sundays in September and October.
Getting redemption in “Second chance event”
On the final weekend of the WSOP online bracelet series, Hiller’s bracelet was obtained during Event #7 ($777 Lucky 7s Second Chance).
One week prior, Hiller reached the final table of the $1,000 Championship Event, securing a respectable seventh place and earning $3,826. Despite holding the second-largest chip stack, his hopes were dashed when his ace-king fell victim to the chip leader’s ace-jack, resulting in a devastating loss after going all-in before the flop. If his hand had prevailed, he would have been in an excellent position to secure his first career bracelet.
Hiller seized the opportunity at the “Second Chance” event, finally getting his shot at closing out a WSOP bracelet event final table. This time, he emerged victorious, surpassing 123 competitors and claiming the esteemed gold bracelet along with the top prize of $21,947.
“It felt as if a burden had been lifted,” Hiller expressed. Having accumulated numerous victories and achievements in smaller tournaments over the course of his career, he had been lacking the tangible recognition, so to speak. “It was a pleasant experience. It felt truly incredible.”
Putting in the volume
Hiller is mainly engaged in online gaming, having participated in more than 4,000 tournaments so far this year. Their performance in prominent events on WSOP.com can be traced back to 2019.
Before online poker was legalized in Michigan, he had already accumulated over twelve cashes in circuit and bracelet events during his stint in AC. Additionally, he had secured numerous wins through daily tournaments and smaller series.
In the 2020 Online Main Event, he achieved his most remarkable accomplishment with a 21st-place finish. This prestigious tournament had a traditional $10,000 buy-in and awarded over $1 million to the ultimate victor, Joseph Hebert. Notably, the tournament had a hybrid format, with the final table of nine players concluding the event at the renowned Rio Las Vegas, which used to be the home of the WSOP.
Hiller, although he didn’t get to have that experience, managed to earn $35,194, which remains his highest official score up to now.
Missing Vegas worked out just fine
During the WSOP, when most of the poker world flocked to Las Vegas, Hiller decided to stay at home due to personal reasons.
Despite not being able to participate in this year’s WSOP, he maximized his time in the Mitten by achieving nine WSOP MI scores in June and July. Among these scores were five circuit wins and four victories in bracelet events. Notably, three of these scores led to final-table finishes, and he proudly earned his first career bracelet.
Hiller expressed, “My online earnings reached an all-time high this month. Additionally, I managed to acquire the bracelet. Reflecting on this, I no longer view this summer as a complete disappointment. It ultimately turned out to be fruitful.”
Comparing Michigan to New Jersey, including interstate poker
We inquired Hiller about his opinion on the comparison between his online gaming experiences in both New Jersey and Michigan, considering his previous history in both locations.
The markets for PokerStars and PartyPoker/BetMGM in New Jersey are isolated, while WSOP.com allows players from Nevada (and Delaware for cash games) to join its player pools. Hiller expressed his longing for the past, when he could compete on WSOP NJ against players from all across the country.
However, Michigan is on the verge of joining states like New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware by establishing their interstate poker compact, which could bring significant changes. Hiller emphasized that the impact of this development will be substantial.
He has a personal desire to engage in friendly battles with his friends residing in Nevada and New Jersey. Additionally, he eagerly anticipates witnessing bigger tournament gatherings with increased prize funds, as well as the inclusion of more states. He holds hope that WSOP.com will eventually be accessible nationwide, providing year-long opportunities to qualify for the Main Event and potentially accommodating a massive field of 15,000 players. Overall, these developments would greatly benefit the poker community.
Hiller expressed his appreciation for Michigan, his home state, stating that he takes more pride in his scores there compared to New Jersey. He also mentioned his fondness for the state, emphasizing his love for poker and encouraging more people to play.
In conclusion, Hiller wanted to express his appreciation for his former roommate in AC, Minh Nguyen. Nguyen emerged victorious in the “The Closer” competition at the 2022 WSOP held in Las Vegas, earning an impressive $536K. Hiller emphasized that Nguyen is not only exceptionally kind, but also exudes positivity and is incredibly diligent in his endeavors.
WSOP MI fall bracelet series to run Sept. 11 through Oct. 16
Similar to the summer season, WSOP MI will be hosting an online bracelet series during the upcoming fall, alongside the larger bracelet series taking place in NV/NJ. The series will commence on Sunday, September 11, and will feature a bracelet event every Sunday until October 16.
In the upcoming weeks, we will release a comprehensive analysis of the series. Meanwhile, let’s take a glance at the schedule, which comprises six No-Limit Hold’em events.
| Date | Online Event | Buy-In |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 11 | Monster Stack | $500 |
| Sept. 18 | NLH | $365 |
| Sept. 25 | Ultra Deepstack PKO | $400 |
| Oct. 2 | Lucky 7s | $777 |
| Oct. 9 | Big 500 | $500 |
| Oct. 16 | Championship | $1,000 |
Ryan Hiller’s photos are courtesy of him.
