"Just Getting Started In Poker": Florida Poker Player Ryan Estrada Passes Away
The poker community recently received sad news that Florida poker player and World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit Ring winner Ryan Estrada passed away unexpectedly in a motorcycle accident.
Estrada was a grinder from Sunrise, FL who was active in the Florida poker community and earned $316,969 in live earnings since his first cash in February 2021 according to the Hendon Mob.
Fellow Florida poker player Matthew Sonzogi shared news of Estrada's death on X, writing that he was "absolutely sick to my stomach" and calling Estrada "one of the nicest kids I met in Florida."
"Going to Be a Crusher"
Estrada's first poker cash game in the form of a victory as he took down a $100 Survivor event at Seminole Casino Coconut Creek for $500.
It was a sign of things to come for Estrada as he went on to win tournaments throughout Florida, including a Seminole New Years Series $200 event ($23,000), a WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown $400 event ($6,080) and a Pompano Isle Casino $250 event ($6,000).
Another career highlight came in October 2023 when he took down a $400 Big 30k event at WSOPC Pompano Beach for $15,514 and a Circuit ring. The same month, he earned his largest cash from a runner-up finish in the SHR Hollywood Anniversary Big Slick Special for $30,935.
But Estrada was just getting started on his poker journey, according to Sonzogi, who shared the following statement with PokerNews:
“Ryan was the nicest kid I ever met since moving to Florida. He was just getting started in poker and was going to be a crusher. Ryan coached me for 6 months for zero money and believed in me more than I believed in myself. You won’t find a single person that has a negative thing to say about him down here and it’s a huge loss to the entire poker community. My condolences to all of his friends and family.
Funny story is he recently fired 15 bullets at Coconut Creek $200 100k because he looked around the room and knew nobody could beat him. And he was right. Straight crusher."
Several poker players offered their condolences on social media, including Jesse Lonis and Nick Palma.
An obituary for Estrada states that he "possessed a rare combination of talent and ambition, destined for greatness both on the poker table and beyond."
"It is a tragedy that we will never witness the fulfillment of his potential and the remarkable achievements he was bound to accomplish," it reads.
PokerNews offers its condolences to the friends and family of Ryan Estrada.
*Photos courtesy Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood & WSOPC
