Ahead of the 2025 WSOP, BetMGM Ambassador Darren Elias was among the game’s best without a bracelet. And it looked like his drought would continue past the summer when he fell agonizingly short against Hall of Famer Nick Schulman in the $10K 2-7 Single Draw Championship.
Schulman paid tribute to Elias afterward, saying, “I think Darren is kind of the best at this game. I mean, it was really an honor to play with him. He's super tough and just a great guy. I wouldn't be surprised if he wins a tournament every summer for the next six years."
Elias found almost immediate redemption when he finally got his first bracelet in the WSOP Crazy Eights online event.
“A WSOP win is an accolade you'd like to have as a professional,” shared Elias. “When you're having a beer with your neighbor, I feel like that's the first thing that they would ask you, ‘Have you ever won a World Series?’ But it’s not something that has meant the world to me or was the most important thing ever.”
PokerOrg caught up with Elias just days after his recent $10K Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open High Roller win to get his take on the grueling heads-up battle with Schulman, the pride he feels representing BetMGM, and the enduring love for the game that continues to drive and fuel his career.
'It felt like we were on a collision course'
That was an amazing heads-up battle with Schulman.
Yes, it was special, especially against Nick. Even though I wasn't able to get the win, that's something I'll remember for my whole career.
When you're playing against another elite player in your best game for a bracelet for a lot of money, you kind of live for these spots. That event reminded me of why I play the game and why I love the game so much. That was an amazing experience, even though I got second.
What was your biggest takeaway from the experience?
Mainly, the intensity and the high level of play. I have a ton of respect for Nick. He's one of the best no-limit players in the world, and he's even better in no-limit 2-7, I would say. We were chip leaders at the end of day one and next to each other on days two and three. It felt like we were on a collision course. And to see that materialize and have a back-and-forth match where there were probably 10 to 15 lead changes, it was intense.
Heads up 2-7 against another elite player is one of those situations where every decision is pretty difficult; it was taxing and challenging in all the best ways.
You didn’t play the whole WSOP this year, did you?
The 2-7 Championship was the last event of the first leg of my trip to Vegas. At this point in my career, I have it pretty well figured out and it involves making two trips to the WSOP. I'll be there for about 10 to 12 days on each trip. That’s the best setup for me, where I can play my best and be my happiest.
I can't be away from my family in Las Vegas for six weeks. They don’t really want to join me in Vegas, so I try to avoid situations where I'm playing all day and have my family sitting in a city they don't know.
I prefer to go somewhere, play, and be completely focused on poker, and then go home and be with them when it’s all over. I rarely mix the two. I don't feel the need to get into every event. I pick and choose my events, and I'm pretty happy with it.
'Sometimes I'm the oldest guy at the table'
Let’s talk about your big win at Seminole. What a stacked lineup at that final table.
Those are guys I've been playing with for a long time. They were good NLH players. I came in at that final table and tripled up early and knocked a guy out. That put me in a good spot, where I was in first or second, and then I ran well. It was kind of the age-old story of the guy who wins a poker tournament — everything went well, ran well, and had good cards. So yeah, I was happy to have that happen.
You’ve had a great relationship with BetMGM as an ambassador. Can you share a little about that experience?
I'm proud of where we've come in the last four years. We now have this unified shared liquidity network. That’s great for all players. One of my key focuses at MGM has been integrating our beautiful live properties, including the Borgata, MGM National Harbor, Aria, Bellagio, and others, with our online product to achieve synergy and create a unified brand.
We’ve sent almost a hundred players to the Aria events every summer for this BetMGM championship. And for me, it brings back the nostalgia of playing these online satellites as a young kid that would give me a chance to compete in a big live tournament. I know you'll see even more exciting developments from BetMGM in the next couple of years.
What do you enjoy most about playing the game now compared to 10-15 years ago?
I love the balance where I can do what I love: compete, travel, play poker, and then go home to be a father. I can put poker aside while I'm at home with my family and be with my kids. It creates a situation where I'm excited to play, and then I'm also excited to go home. It's a win-win.
What fuels that drive for you day-to-day?
I sit down, and sometimes I'm the oldest guy at the table playing against these 20-something online kids. I enjoy seeing their passion for the game.
The new wave of younger players coming up inspires me. I love to see that. People in my shoes can tend to be a little jaded about poker, having been there and seen everything. Some players my age end up a bit burned out. Seeing young, aspiring players with their passion for the game brings me back to my younger days. I love to see that.
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