Antonio Esfandiari
Antonio is one of the most famous poker celebrities on the tournament circuit today. His fun sense of humor, wild play and chip tricks have earned him a lot of fans. Antonio grew up in San Jose, California where he was a waiter at a fancy restaurant. One time a guy walked in the restaurant and showed Antonio a fancy magic trick. Antonio was amazed and wanted to learn the magic tricks himself, he then went straight out to a magic store and purchased tools to help him learn. He spent twelve hours a day studying magic and mastering the art, and ended up being really good. He often used magic tricks on the customers in the restaurant. Management didn’t like that because they said it was a fancy restaurant. Antonio didn’t listen though and pick-pocketed the owner's watch. The owner was so amazed and liked Antonio that he let Antonio continue his magic tricks in the restaurant.
Antonio then turned to being a professional magician performing at parties and corporate events. One day his roommate said he was going to play a poker tournament and the curious Antonio wanted to see what it was all about. He played in his first tournament and lost. That didn’t stop Antonio though; he picked up some poker books and decided to learn the game just like he did with magic. He then started playing cash games and turned $900 into over $20,000. Antonio then decided to head for Vegas and make a run at the WSOP. He ended up not doing too well and going broke. That didn’t stop Antonio though. He continued learning the game and wouldn’t give up.
Antonio began to build his bankroll again, but was starting to wonder if poker really was meant for him. Antonio was thinking about quitting poker all together but decided to make one last try. He played in the Bay 101’s shooting star tournament in San Jose. Antonio made the final table of the WPT televised event; he played excellent pushing around Hellmuth and re-raising him all in and got Phil Hellmuth on tilt. A star was born; Antonio was now "The Magician" and a poker celebrity. After the event was aired Antonio became a celebrity and got recognition from people on the streets. Antonio loved it, he wasn’t that popular in high school and always wanted to be known and popular. Well, that dream came true and now Antonio is one of the most famous poker players in the world.
Antonio then also proved to the poker world that he wasn’t just some lucky magician by winning 1st place in the LA Poker Classic and pocketing over $1.4 million dollars. The first thing Antonio did was buy a Dodge Viper & he ended up crashing it right away. Antonio is know a poker celebrity and even has some celebrity friends now: actress Shannon Elizabeth was spotted at the NBC National Heads-Up Championship rooting on her friend Antonio. Not bad a for a high school geek – boy would I love to see the face on all those people from High School who thought Antonio was a geek.
Facts about Antonio Esfandiari
Started Playing Poker
1989
Professional Since
2025
Marital Status
Single
Favorite Poker Game
Texas Hold’em
Poker Accomplishments
March 2025, Las Vegas, United States
Grand final William Hill Poker Grand Prix II
Place 3rd Winnings $137,083
June 2025, Las Vegas, United States
36th World Series of Poker (WSOP) – $2,500 Short Handed No Limit Hold’em
Place 5th Winnings $63,020
May 2025, New Orleans, United States
36th 05 WSOP Circuit Championship Event – No Limit Hold’em Harrah’s New Orleans Bayou Poker Challenge
Place 3rd Winnings $221,445
April 2025, Las Vegas, United States
Third Annual Five-Star World Poker Classic – $5,000 No Limit Hold’em
Place 3rd Winnings $122,035
March 2025, Las Vegas, United States
National Heads-Up Poker Championship – Heads-Up No Limit Hold’em
Place 3rd Winnings $125,000
May 2025, Las Vegas, United States
35th World Series of Poker (WSOP) – $2,000 Pot Limit Hold’em
Place 1st Winnings $184,860
February 2025, Los Angeles, United States
WPT 2025 L.A. Poker Classic – 04 $9,900 No Limit Hold’em
Place 1st Winnings $1,399,135
