Poker Pro Ryan Hiller Talks First WSOP Bracelet Win, Michigan Online Poker

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Written By Hill Kerby on August 19, 2022

Could you please rewrite the following sentence for me?<br><br>Original sentence: “The weather is expected to be sunny tomorrow.”

Ryan Hiller, hailing from Lake Orion in the Detroit region, is a skilled poker player who has achieved great success. In 2022, he stands at the top of the leaderboard for tournament earnings on BetMGM Poker MI. Furthermore, he recently secured his very first World Series of Poker bracelet during the online bracelet series held in June and July, thereby marking a significant milestone in his career.

At the age of 26, Hiller has been engaged in playing since he reached the age of 18. He initiated his online poker journey in 2018, and amidst the pandemic in 2020, he decided to relocate to Atlantic City in order to pursue his professional aspirations. In his pursuit, he left behind his career in insurance sales, driven by the fact that online poker is legally allowed in the state of New Jersey, also known as the Garden State.

Despite his family’s worries, Hiller was resolute in his decision, claiming that he would never be able to forgive himself if he passed up the opportunity. Fast-forward two years, and Hiller is still actively playing as a professional athlete. Furthermore, he has returned to his beloved home state of Michigan and just had his most lucrative summer yet.

Playinmichigan recently caught up with Hiller to discuss his recent successes and the current state of the Michigan online poker scene, as there are six additional bracelet events set to be won on Sundays in September and October.

Getting redemption in “Second chance event”

On the final weekend of the WSOP online bracelet series, Hiller emerged victorious in Event #7 ($777 Lucky 7s Second Chance) and secured the coveted bracelet.

Hiller had an impressive performance at the $1,000 Championship Event a week ago, reaching the final table and securing the seventh position. He walked away with a prize of $3,826. Despite being in a strong position with the second highest chip count, his hopes were shattered when his ace-king hand was defeated by the chip leader’s ace-jack after going all-in before the flop. If his hand had emerged victorious, he would have been in an excellent position to claim his first career bracelet.

Hiller found himself in a fortunate position during the “Second Chance” event, as he was given another opportunity to win a WSOP bracelet event final table. This time, he emerged victorious, surpassing 123 competitors and securing not only the esteemed gold bracelet but also a substantial prize of $21,947.

“It was as if a burden had been lifted,” expressed Hiller. Although he had achieved numerous victories and accomplishments in smaller tournaments over the course of his career, the absence of any tangible recognition had always been a lingering disappointment. “It was a gratifying moment. The feeling was simply incredible.”

Putting in the volume

Hiller’s main focus is online gaming, participating in more than 4,000 tournaments this year alone. Their track record on WSOP.com dates back to 2019, with notable achievements in major events.

Prior to the legalization of online poker in Michigan, he had already accumulated over a dozen cashes in circuit and bracelet events during his time in AC. Additionally, he had achieved numerous wins through daily tournaments and smaller series.

In the 2020 Online Main Event, his outstanding achievement was securing the 21st position. This prestigious tournament maintained its customary $10,000 entry fee and rewarded over $1 million to Joseph Hebert, who emerged as the ultimate victor. Notably, the event followed a hybrid format, culminating in a final table of nine players concluding the competition at the renowned Rio Las Vegas, the previous venue of the WSOP.

Hiller, despite not having that experience, managed to earn $35,194, which remains his highest official score until now.

Missing Vegas worked out just fine

During the WSOP, while many poker enthusiasts flocked to Las Vegas, Hiller opted to stay at home for personal reasons.

Despite not being able to participate in the 2022 WSOP, he managed to maximize his time in the Mitten by achieving nine WSOP MI scores in June and July. This remarkable feat included five circuit scores and four scores in bracelet events. Notably, three of these scores resulted in final-table finishes, and he proudly earned his first career bracelet.

Hiller expressed, “My online earnings reached an all-time high this month, making it my best month ever in terms of profit. Additionally, I managed to acquire the bracelet. Reflecting on this, I no longer perceive this summer as a complete waste. It turned out to be successful after all.”

Comparing Michigan to New Jersey, including interstate poker

We inquired Hiller about his thoughts on comparing his online gaming experience in both New Jersey and Michigan, considering his past involvement in both places.

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 share their player pools. Hiller expressed his longing for the ability to play on WSOP NJ against players from all across the country.

When that day comes, it will be “huge” as Michigan is set to join the ranks of New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware with their interstate poker compact, according to Hiller.

He has a personal desire to engage in friendly battles with his friends from Nevada and New Jersey. Additionally, he eagerly anticipates witnessing larger tournament fields and prize pools, and wishes for more states to join in. He holds hope for WSOP.com to eventually be accessible throughout the entire nation, providing year-round satellite tournaments for the Main Event and potentially accommodating a massive field of 15,000 players. These developments would undoubtedly be beneficial for the poker community.

Hiller expressed his preference for Michigan, his home state, and the sense of pride he feels towards his scores in comparison to New Jersey. He mentioned enjoying his current location and expressed his belief that more people should participate in the game of poker, which he finds awesome.

In conclusion, Hiller wanted to express his appreciation for his former roommate in AC, Minh Nguyen. Nguyen achieved a remarkable feat by winning the “The Closer” event at the 2022 WSOP in Las Vegas, earning a staggering $536K. Hiller emphasized that Nguyen is not only incredibly kind and positive, but also one of the most diligent and dedicated individuals he has ever encountered.

WSOP MI fall bracelet series to run Sept. 11 through Oct. 16

Similar to the summer, WSOP MI is introducing an online bracelet series in the upcoming fall, featuring weekend events alongside the major bracelet series in NV/NJ. Starting on Sunday, Sept. 11, the series will commence and continue to host a bracelet event every Sunday until Oct. 16.

In the upcoming weeks, we will release a comprehensive analysis of the series. However, for now, here is a glimpse of the schedule, which consists of 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

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