Antonio Esfandiari

Amir Esfandiary was born on December 8, 1978, in Tehran, Iran, and moved to San Jose, California, with his family at the age of nine. He adopted the name Antonio at 19, driven by a desire to enhance his persona as a magician. His early professional life involved performing magic, which subtly introduced him to the world of poker when he was invited to a Texas Hold ’em game. This initial exposure to poker eventually led him to pursue a career as a professional poker player.

Esfandiari began to make a name for himself in the poker world in the early 2000s. In 2004, he secured his first World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet in pot-limit Texas Hold ’em. The same year, he won his first World Poker Tour (WPT) title at the L.A. Poker Classic, earning nearly $1.4 million. His career progression continued with appearances on various poker television shows, including “Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament,” “High Stakes Poker,” and “Poker After Dark,” where his unique style and chip tricks garnered attention. A significant turning point occurred in 2010 when he won his second WPT title at the Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World, adding over $870,000 to his winnings.

The pinnacle of Esfandiari’s career came in 2012 when he won “The Big One for One Drop,” a $1,000,000 buy-in tournament, securing $18,346,673—the largest cash prize in poker history at that time. This victory also marked his second WSOP bracelet. He further cemented his legacy by winning a third WSOP bracelet at the 2012 World Series of Poker Europe in the €1,100 No Limit Hold’em event. As of 2023, his total live tournament winnings exceed $27,800,000, placing him among the top earners in professional poker. Beyond his tournament success, Esfandiari has also authored “The Magician’s Secrets for Winning Tournaments” and ventured into television projects such as “I Bet You” and “Strip Magic.”