Biography
Antonio Esfandiari is a former professional magician and poker player known for his chip tricks. He was the face of UltimatePoker.com and has won three WSOP bracelets and two WPT. He was ranked number one for all-time tournaments until Daniel Negreanu took his position. He has also authored The Magician's Secrets for Winning Tournaments on Insta poker.
Background
Esfandiari was born on December 8, 1978, in Tehran, Iran. When he was nine, his family moved to San Jose, California, where he graduated from Del Mar High School in 1997.
He was caught selling marijuana and went to jail. After that, he changed his name from Amir to Antonio as Antonio, the magician, sounded more mystical. He also had his nose job done to look less foreign. He was performing magic when he was invited to play Texas Holdem.
Antonio Poker Career
In 2004, he won his first major poker tournament title, $1.4 million, and a WPT title at the L.A. Poker Classic. His appearance on TV shows Poker Superstars Invitational, High Stakes Poker, and Poker After Dark made him more famous.
In 2008, he reached the final table of the major tournament in Monte Carlo. He finished in 8th and won $266,000. In 2009, he finished 24th in the WSOP Main Event and won $352,832. In 2010, he won his second WPT title and $870,000 in high profile tournament.
In 2012, he won the Big One for One Drop tournament with a buy-in of $1 million and took home $18.3 million. The same year, he won his third WSOP bracelet and €126,207 in the European tournament.
In 2013, he placed fourth in another thigh-stake game and won over $1.4 million. He ranked #14 in the global Poker Index, a ranking system for live poker players.
World Series of Poker Bracelets
|
Year |
Tournament |
Prize |
|---|---|---|
|
2004 |
$2,000 Pot Limit Hold'em |
$184,860 |
|
2012 |
$1,000,000 Big One for One Drop No Limit Hold'em |
$18,346,673 |
|
2012E |
€1,100 No Limit Hold'em |
€126,207 |
World Poker Tour Titles
|
Year |
Tournament |
Prize |
|---|---|---|
|
2004 |
$10,000 L.A. Poker Classic |
$1,399,135 |
|
2010 |
$10,000 Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic |
$870,124 |
Antonio Poker Player’s Net Worth
As of 2023, Antonio Esfandiari’s total live tournament winnings were over $27,800,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Antonio Esfandiari make his money?
Antonio Esfandiari’s primary source of income is through poker.
Does Antonio still play poker?
No. He has stopped playing in WSOP. He doesn’t show up for any games.
Who is the famous Iranian poker player?
Antonio Esfandiari is a famous Iranian poker player.
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