[1] Riess attended Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes High School and graduated from Michigan State University with a Hospitality Business degree.

[2] His first career tournament cash came in October 2012, when he took 2nd place at the World Series of Poker Circuit main event in Hammond, Indiana, for $239,063.

Playing in his first WSOP Main Event, he made the November Nine in 5th chip position with 25,875,000.

After eliminating 4 players at the final table, Riess entered heads-up against Jay Farber with a nearly 20 million chip deficit.

After 90 hands of heads-up play, Riess's A♥ K♥ defeated Farber's Q♠ 5♠ to win the championship bracelet and $8,361,570.