Poker Stars – Antonio Esfandiari
Antonio Esfandiari is a regular part of the most exclusive big bet poker tournament clubs. In addition to winning both World Series and World Poker Tour titles, he is a regular at many of the biggest games across the globe. Recently, in the newly started European Poker Tour, he reached a final table.
Antonio was born in Iran as Amir Esfandiari. Later he changed his first name to Antonio. He is popularly called “The Magician”. This title has a direct significance to Esfandiari and his great skill at playing cards. Before he became a poker pro, Antonio Esfandiari started off as a professional magician in casinos. At those very casinos he picked up the skills of the game of poker which would earn him a big fortune in the future.
He chose to be out of the circuit for six years and instead decided to be part of cash games exclusively. He then stormed into it and reached the top in 2004. The high stakes Chris Moneymaker Tournament in 2003 pushed him into participating on the circuit again.
He won the World Poker Tour and the World Series in 2004. In his travels around the globe for tournaments he gained Phil Laak as a friend. They used to share the same room in hotels. Later the two went on to inspire the popular TC show, “I Bet You”, a famous HDD network Mojo Show. The show features unusually talented players like Esfandiari and Laak from all around the world.
He looks like bit of a poser but if your winning the kind of money he wins then does it matter lol