Ryan Riess Crushes the Pins: WSOP Champ Bowls a Perfect 300 Game

My journey in the world of poker (and later casino, sportsbetting) started more than 20 years ago, when I first attended a low-stakes live tournament. I’ve never looked back since, and have been active in several fields, including being a poker player, a live tournament director, writing online and offline articles about poker, and managing the localization of one of the world's largest online poker rooms. Poker is my home ground, I could never imagine doing a job that is not a part of it. I hope someday I’ll have more time to play live; that's something I've missed in the past few years. A game where luck meets skill - what would be more interesting?

Updated: 2026.02.26

Ryan Riess bowls perfect game for a $5,000 prop bet — Ryan Riess bowls a 300-point perfect game for a $5,000 prop bet against Jesse Lonis

Have you ever had one of those days where everything you touch turns to gold? For poker legend Ryan Riess , that day was this past Monday. The 2013 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event champion took his skills from the felt to the bowling alley and proved he’s still the “best closer” in the game.

Riess didn’t just win a casual game with friends. He bowled a perfect 300 game. In the bowling world, a 300 is the highest score possible. It means he threw 12 strikes in a row without a single mistake.

A High-Stakes Bet on the Lane

The magic happened at a Las Vegas bowling alley during a match between three poker heavyweights. Riess was joined by 2023 WPT World Champion Dan Sepiol and high-stakes pro Jesse Lonis.

But there was more than just pride on the line. Lonis had made a bet with Riess: if Riess could bowl a perfect game, Lonis would pay him $5,000. While $5,000 might seem small compared to the $8.3 million Riess won at the WSOP, the pressure was definitely on.

Lonis even filmed the final moments for social media. As Riess stepped up for his last three shots, Lonis told his followers, “I’m bowling against the best closer of all time!”

The main event champ! Bowls a 300! Enjoy the video. That’s $5,000 I’ll never see again!💸💸💸 @RyanRiess1 pic.twitter.com/KFxzTK6ItB

— Jesse Lonis (@JesseLonis) February 24, 2026

The Final Frame

Going into the tenth and final frame, Riess had already hit nine strikes in a row. He had a score of 270 and needed three more strikes to hit the magic 300 mark.

While his friends watched in awe, Riess stayed cool. He “drilled” the first strike, then the second, and finally the third. The room erupted in cheers as the final pin fell. Lonis, despite being out $5,000, was a great sport and captured the whole thing on video.

Player	Bowling Score	Major Poker Achievement
Ryan Riess	300 (Perfect)	2013 WSOP Main Event Champion
Dan Sepiol	159	2023 WPT World Champion
Jesse Lonis	156	High-Stakes Tournament Pro

More Than Just a Poker Player

Riess has over $16.9 million in lifetime poker winnings, but this bowling feat shows he has talent far beyond the card table. He’s known for being a “closer,” a term used for someone who can finish a game or tournament strong when the pressure is highest.

He isn’t the only poker pro with hidden talents, either. Here are a few other pros who crush it in other hobbies:

Juha Helppi: A Finnish poker legend who is also a national paintball champion.
Mike “Timex” McDonald: A top poker pro who recently won a national chess championship.
Kane Kalas: A professional player who is also a gifted singer.

Whether he’s holding a pair of Aces or a 15-pound bowling ball, Ryan Riess knows how to win. Next time you see him at the lanes, you might want to think twice before betting against him! You might have better chances to beat him in poker, so why not hit the tables and hone your skills at one of the online poker sites we carefully reviewed and recommend, like Stake Poker , ACR , or GGPoker ?