The Silent Killer

[user101598]

Level 10 : 600/1,200, 200 ante

Darren Elias doesn't say much. If you're lucky, he'll flash a smile once in a blue moon, but for the most part he keeps to himself, dissecting his opponents with an icy, Phil Ivey-like stare.

2012 World Series of Poker Main Event champion Greg Merson told us on the PokerNews Podcast last summer that he thinks Elias is one of the best tournament players in the game. In fact, he was the original "End Boss" before Tony Gregg stormed onto the scene and started making every final table under the sun.

Elias has just over $1.6 million in career live tournament earnings, including a fifth place finish in the 2011 WPT Borgata Poker Open for $230,610. The first time we spotted him today, he was already up to 75,000 chips.