Antonio Esfandiari
The Magician
Born: December 8th 1978
Resides: San Francisco, California
Affiliation: World Poker Tour
WSOP Bracelets: 1
WPT Championships: 1
Antonio Esfandiari
Antonio Esfandiari is originally from Tehran, Iran and moved to the United States with his parents in 1988. Antonio did not know the English language when he first arrived in America, which more than likely gave him a head start as to studying body language, looking at people rather than listening to them. He's also a pretty quick learner, and within about six months was able to communicate pretty solidly in English.
Antonio was said to be a studious child until his senior year when he began his partying phase. Antonio left his parents home when he was seventeen and moved into an apartment of his own. To pay for his apartment, Antonio worked as a waiter. It was at his job that he saw his first magic trick. From that moment Antonio was hooked and went straight to a magic shop to learn tricks. Antonio soon became very talented in magic and quit his job as a waiter. Known as "Magic Antonio", he would earn up to three and four hundred dollars an hour for his magic tricks.
Antonio's roommate during this time was a professional poker player and convinced him to try and play. Antonio was too young to begin professionally but he could play others at private games for money. Antonio became quite the card player. Later on when Antonio was old enough to compete he met Phil Laak. They both were seated at the same table during the WSOP. Antonio was doing magic and Laak was trying to figure out how Antonio was performing the tricks. This made Antonio irritated at first but he soon got over it and the two became friends. They would soon be roommates as well.
Antonio's career really gained momentum in 2002. At a World Poker Tour event, Antonio managed to finish third and win his first big win of $44,000. In 2003, Antonio would make it to the final table at a WSOP event pushing him even further into the public eye.
In 2004, Antonio became the youngest player ever to win a World Poker Tour event. Antonio won $1.4 million dollars at the L.A. Poker Classic. Antonio has also appeared at Poker Superstars events, on High Stakes Poker and on the NBC Poker After Dark television show. Antonio and his buddy Laak appear together on the TV show I Bet You on the MOJO HD.
Poker Tournament Wins:- IP Poker Classic Event 4
- Heat 6 William Hill Poker Grand Prix II
- Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament Season 3 Semi final
- Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament Season 3 Quarter Finals
- Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament Season 3 Final
- Heat one Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament Season 3
- Preliminary Match 4 Poker Royal Battle of the sexes
- WSOP $2,000 Pot Limit Hold'em
- WPT $9,900 No Limit Hold'em Championship
