Michael Ely

Cinnabon is the poker nickname of Michael Ely, a Texas attorney and regular fixture in the live cash-game scene at Poker At The Lodge. Away from the table, he has built a long legal career focused on civil litigation, including personal injury, wrongful death, insurance defense, and aviation-related cases.

Ely studied at Harding University before earning his law degree from George Washington University Law School. Earlier in his career, he worked in Washington, D.C., and later practiced in Florida and Texas, giving him experience representing clients on both the plaintiff and defense sides of civil cases.

One of the more unusual parts of his background is his time in government before becoming a lawyer. While in college, Ely interned at the White House during the Clinton administration, and he also spent time in Congressman Vic Snyder’s office. During law school, he additionally worked as a legal intern at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

In poker, Cinnabon is best described as a successful professional outside poker who is also a serious live cash-game regular, rather than someone whose public career is centered on poker alone. His appearances at The Lodge and other streamed cash games have made the nickname recognizable to livestream audiences.