Ari Engel

Alan "Ari" Engel was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and raised in an Orthodox Jewish household near Chicago, where his father served as a rabbi. He spent long hours studying sacred texts before attending New York University, where he earned a double major in finance and business management. After college, Engel aimed for a Wall Street career, but poker changed his path: he turned $150 into $15,000 playing online in just ten days and quit his job to pursue poker full-time.

Engel moved to Las Vegas and made his first WSOP cash in 2006. His breakthrough came in 2007 when he won his first WSOP Circuit ring in Atlantic City for $63,018. Over the following years, he traveled extensively, cashing in Australia, Europe, and his native Canada. In 2011, he finished sixth in the EPT Prague Main Event for over $150,000, his largest cash at the time.

Engel holds the all-time record for WSOP Circuit rings with 17, surpassing other grinders like Maurice Hawkins. His ring victories span from 2007 to 2024, including wins in various poker formats such as No-Limit Hold'em, Pot-Limit Omaha, and H.O.R.S.E. Notable ring wins include a $1,125 NLHE event in 2012 for $55,503 and a $215 online event in July 2023. He also won multiple rings in the same week during the 2023 WSOP Circuit online series, tying then breaking the record.

Engel's largest cash came in 2016 when he won the Aussie Millions Main Event in Melbourne for A$1.6 million (approximately $1,120,110). He defeated Tony Dunst heads-up at a final table that included Samantha Abernathy and Kitty Kuo. He also made a deep run in the 2018 Aussie Millions Main Event, finishing 10th.

Engel has won four WSOP bracelets:

• 2019: $2,500 No-Limit Hold'em (Event #48) for $427,399
• 2021: $10,000 Omaha Hi/Lo 8 or Better Championship (Event #9) for $317,076
• 2023O: $500 No-Limit Hold'em Turbo 6-Max (Online Bracelet Event #28) for $38,197
• 2024O: $400 No-Limit Hold'em Turbo (Online Bracelet Event #29) for $34,200

His best WSOP Main Event finish is 130th in 2022.

In August 2016, Engel finished third in the EPT Barcelona €10,000 High Roller 8-Handed event for €307,900. He also has multiple final tables on the World Poker Tour and European Poker Tour, with 21 WPT cashes and 4 EPT cashes overall.

Engel is known as a mid-high stakes professional with a disciplined, well-rounded game. He excels in mixed games, earning the nickname "BodogAri" and "BacBillNat9" online. He is often described as a hard-working grinder who travels year-round, and his consistency over nearly two decades has made him one of Canada's most successful tournament players.

Engel is married and resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is active on social media, sharing poker insights and his tournament experiences.

As of 2024, Engel's live tournament earnings exceed $8.9 million, placing him among the top Canadian players on the all-time money list.