The 2016 November Nine: Seat 6, Michael Ruane

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For Michael Ruane, life has come full circle.

Only this time, after making the 2016 World Series of Poker Main Event final table, he’s doing it with a little bit more money in his pocket.

Where does the circle start?

Home for Ruane – pronounced ROO-an – is in New Jersey. There Ruane experienced familiar poker beginnings. He learned the game watching poker on TV and playing home games with friends. He practiced and played alongside his twin brother, but it was his younger brother Sean who would eventually become Ruane’s poker companion.

“He’s 23 but he’s wise beyond his years,” said Ruane, the 28-year-old big brother. “Every step of the way, he and I have been together.”

Funny enough, Ruane claims to be merely the second-best player in the family, thanks to Sean.

“Sean naturally started playing when he was 13 or 14 and was kind of a prodigy, one of those kids who is just filthy at poker. He still is. He’s amazing; he’s better than me.”

Life was good for Ruane. He was playing a game he loved for a living while surrounded by friends and family, as he and Sean pushed each other and improved their games together. Then Black Friday hit and Ruane was left directionless.

He headed for Las Vegas in the summer of 2011, notching a couple of small cashes for around $10,000 at the WSOP.

At that age, life changes can be made on a whim, and to hear Ruane tell it, there wasn’t much though behind his next move.

“Someone suggested we move to Malta,” he said simply.

That’s exactly what they did, they being a group of eight or nine poker players and friends. So began Ruane’s poker journey for about eight months in the European island nation of just over 400,000. What stood out there was the scenery.

“It’s an unbelievably beautiful country,” Ruane said. “It’s gorgeous.”

Next was Costa Rice for about six months, and after that, a longer stay in Montreal. Ruane became enamored with the Canadian metropolis, spending two years there he thoroughly enjoyed.

“That was probably my favorite. I love Montreal,” he said. “The other places were great, but Montreal is the type of place you could live for 10 years and find something new every day. I miss it. We try to go back every summer at least once.”

Still, the pull of home was strong, and when online poker returned to New Jersey, Ruane returned with it. He settled in Hoboken and says he’s happy to be back. He plays four to five nights a week for around five hours a night, giving him …

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