Nicknamed "The Magician", Antonio Esfandiari is a professional poker player who is a popular player on the tournament circuit and is known for his chip trick techniques.
Born in 1978 in Tehran, Iran, Antonio and his family moved to the United States in search of a better life when he was 9 years old. The family settled in San Jose, California and found life difficult because of the linguistic and cultural adjustments. At age 16, he got a job as a waiter at the restaurant. A bartender there introduced Antonio to magic by showing him a card trick and Antonio was so fascinated by it that he bought many books and videotapes about magic to learn about it. He taught himself a few tricks and used them to impress customers at the restaurant and hold private parties at which he worked.
At 19, Antonio accompanied a friend to a local cardroom in San Jose. His friend played in a poker tournament, while Antonio played in a cash game. He did quite well and thought that he could make money doing it. He studied the game built his bankroll enough to go to Las Vegas and enter the WSOP main event. Even though the trip didn't pay off, he met and became friends with Phil Laak, who gave him valuable guidance.
In 2002, Antonio entered his first WPT tournament, making it to the final table of the Gold Rush event and placing third for $44,000. He came back during the second season of the WPT and won the L.A. Poker Classic in 2004 for $1,399,135. He also became the youngest player ever to win a million dollar prize in a poker tournament and the youngest player to win a televised WPT event. That same week, he made another final table at a WPT event, finishing in 6th place.
His first final table (and first cash) at the WSOP was a 5th place finish in the $2,000 No Limit Hold'em event at the 2003 WSOP for $34,060. In 2004 he won his first bracelet and $184,860 in the $2,000 pot-limit hold'em event at the 2004 WSOP. He made 2 more final tables at the 2005 WSOP/
Antonio appeared in the 2nd and 3rd seasons of the Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament - the third season. He was also in each season of High Stakes Poker and each season of NBC's Poker After Dark.
Antonio authored "World Poker Tour: In the Money" which was released in early 2006.
In April 2008, Antonio made the final table at the 2008 PokerStars.com EPT Grand Final in Monte Carlo finishing in 8th place, winning €168,000 ($266,004). In 2009, Antonio made his best finish so far in the WSOP Main Event, finishing 24th out of 6,494 player, earning $352,832.
As of 2009, he has 1 WSOP bracelet, 9 WSOP cashes and total live tournament winnings exceed $3,400,000. Along with Annie Duke, Phil Hellmuth, and Devilfish, he promotes UltimateBet.
Log in to post comments
or Register
nature1970 on June 3, 2015
????? on September 9, 2013
VA Poker on January 17, 2010
VA Poker on November 12, 2009
????? on November 9, 2009
vittek on December 29, 2008
thegrinder on September 1, 2008
bad_dog76 on November 30, 2007
Jeannie on July 13, 2007
shaheen shareef on May 5, 2007
headlessman1964 on December 31, 2006
DonkeySlayer on November 24, 2006
bad_dog76 on August 31, 2006
jesse shultz on August 19, 2006
bad_dog76 on August 11, 2006
Olstad on July 25, 2006
alan on July 11, 2006
TheRaizer657 on July 7, 2006
grdred944 on January 6, 2006
????? on October 31, 2005
SuperPasha on October 10, 2005
Bird on August 24, 2005
Unregistered on August 23, 2005
tm3545 on August 17, 2005
get realigous get security on August 3, 2005
the matador on August 1, 2005
GetReal on July 30, 2005
PokerVertigo on July 26, 2005
anna on July 24, 2005
meh on July 22, 2005
btw on July 20, 2005
Sade on July 20, 2005
PokerVertigo on July 17, 2005
Lone Dude on July 17, 2005
schneid on July 15, 2005
CheckFolder/PokerStars on July 13, 2005
Alesya/Shorty/alesyawright on July 10, 2005
JetsFan315 on July 6, 2005
Ida in LA on July 5, 2005
Mark Kawayoshi on July 5, 2005
Rich Nguyen on July 5, 2005
Ida in LA on July 3, 2005
James on July 3, 2005
James on July 3, 2005
HEATHER NICOLE on June 29, 2005
BNB on June 16, 2005
Unregistered on June 14, 2005
Unregistered on June 11, 2005
da bagsta on May 31, 2005
Who Cares on May 30, 2005
PAsha on May 29, 2005
Dirk Diggler on May 23, 2005
Antonio Esfandiari on May 18, 2005
HEATHER R on May 16, 2005
loser on May 1, 2005
Anahita on April 28, 2005
angels lily on April 3, 2005
JetsFan315 on March 28, 2005
Unregistered on March 26, 2005
Nem on March 21, 2005
Sammy the Brick on March 19, 2005
ZAM on March 19, 2005
Stolztman on March 5, 2005
joey crack on March 4, 2005
Dirk Diggler on March 1, 2005
Dirk Nowitzki on March 1, 2005
tm91(ZAM) on March 1, 2005
tm91(ZAM) on February 25, 2005
Robby James in Vegas on February 23, 2005
Wersian on February 21, 2005
tm91(Zam) on February 20, 2005
Mehran Esfandiari on February 18, 2005
Dan on February 16, 2005
gr8t2bgr8t on January 31, 2005
Ivey252000 on January 30, 2005
xerxes_the_god on January 23, 2005
SICILIANO13N on January 18, 2005
Exactly... on December 29, 2004
Unregistered on December 28, 2004
rashman191 on December 8, 2004
hey on November 22, 2004
hey koshkesh aka carslo with a big truck on November 18, 2004
slvsc2 on November 15, 2004
Unregistered on November 14, 2004
Unregistered on November 7, 2004
Moein < Mr.Habibi on November 6, 2004
Moein < Mr.Habibi on November 6, 2004
Massachussetts on November 4, 2004
SSYoungGUN on November 3, 2004
antonio esfandiari on November 2, 2004
"R" on November 1, 2004
Unregistered on October 31, 2004
Yeah on October 20, 2004
Unregistered on October 9, 2004
Unregistered on September 23, 2004
Unregistered on September 21, 2004
mr common sense/maverickles on September 20, 2004
antonio esfandiari on September 19, 2004
pocket7s on September 18, 2004
steve L. on September 15, 2004
Unregistered on September 11, 2004
Bromptonizer on September 11, 2004
Mr. Belvedere on August 31, 2004
Kiss my ass on August 31, 2004
Unregistered on August 31, 2004
Unregistered on August 31, 2004
I have a Question on August 30, 2004
TO: HN on August 30, 2004
Heather Nicole heatherxgeorge on August 30, 2004
Unregistered on August 29, 2004
Jackie/skichick on August 27, 2004
TO REPEAT on August 25, 2004
JT Money on August 25, 2004
noj/#1stunna/skaterj_00 on August 21, 2004
dave on August 16, 2004
Unregistered on August 15, 2004
Heather Nicole on August 13, 2004
Shannon B/Sburgess/Shannonb7575 on August 12, 2004
To Heather on August 12, 2004
continuation from above on August 12, 2004
Heather Nicole on August 11, 2004
Falafel Sam on August 5, 2004
PokrStudent on August 5, 2004
Rectal envy... on August 4, 2004
Ryan S. on August 3, 2004
mike on August 3, 2004
the voice of reason on August 2, 2004
Dont Hate Him Cause You Aint Him on August 1, 2004
Unregistered on August 1, 2004
Unregistered on August 1, 2004
ON THE REAL TIP on July 31, 2004
Nima/Nima Tehrani/Chosofeel on July 29, 2004
Unregistered on July 28, 2004
Heather Nicole on July 27, 2004
pish tosh on July 20, 2004
Eric/K on July 16, 2004
Unregistered on July 15, 2004
Monk104 on July 12, 2004
MitchL on July 1, 2004
david.mahoney on June 28, 2004
Poker Kitten on June 28, 2004
michael/ jordan/ mj23 on June 27, 2004
ADAM/A/heavydman99 on June 26, 2004
Farhad Esfandiari on June 26, 2004
Anthony on June 26, 2004
herman007 on June 23, 2004
look on June 23, 2004
Unregistered on June 20, 2004
TheTruth on June 18, 2004