Nationality
Iranian-American
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Born (date and place of birth)
December 8, 1978 in Tehran, Iran
Residence (current location)
San Francisco, California, USA
Education (institution, specialization)
Graduated from Del Mar High School in 1997
Year started playing poker
Late 1990s
Age when started playing
Around 19-20 years old
Year turned professional
Early 2000s (first major win in 2004)
First major win (amount, tournament, year)
2004 L.A. Poker Classic, first WPT title, won approximately $1.4 million
First important tournament
Early 2000s; notable first big event was 2004 WPT L.A. Poker Classic where he won
Main motivation for turning pro
Transitioned from magic to poker after being introduced to Texas Hold'em; sought a career more aligned to his interests and skillset
Poker education (courses, coaches)
Authored "The Magician's Secrets for Winning Tournaments" in 2012; no formal poker schooling documented
First sponsor/backing
UltimatePoker.com (served as the face of the site)
Total live tournament winnings
Over $27.8 million in live tournament earnings as of 2025
Number of tournament wins
At least 3 WSOP bracelets, 2 World Poker Tour titles, and several other tournament victories
Number of final tables
More than 10 final tables in major tournaments
Largest tournament win (amount, tournament, year)
$18,346,673 at the 2012 WSOP Big One for One Drop $1,000,000 buy-in event
WSOP bracelets (number)
3 (2004 $2,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em, 2012 Big One for One Drop, 2012 WSOP Europe €1,100 No Limit Hold'em)
WSOP cashes (number)
51 cashes recorded in WSOP events
WSOP final tables
11 final tables at WSOP events
Best WSOP Main Event result
24th place in 2009 WSOP Main Event, earning $352,832
Super high roller results ($100K+)
4th place in the 2013 $111,111 One Drop High Roller event, earning $1,433,438
High roller wins ($25K-$100K)
Wins in high roller events including WPT Five Diamond and other high buy-in events
Poker team
Former face of UltimatePoker.com; ownership/stakeholder in 3Bet Poker Clothing brand
Main cash game limits
Primarily high stakes live tournament play; known also for high stakes cash game participation
Highest stakes played
Participated in $1,000,000 buy-in tournament and high roller events up to $100K+ buy-ins
Notable high stakes sessions
Known for aggressive and strategic play in televised high stakes cash games
"Big Game" participation
Regular on GSN’s High Stakes Poker and NBC’s Poker After Dark during poker boom
Country ranking
Top-ranked American poker player during peak years
All Time Money List position
Among top 15 in all-time live tournament earnings globally as of 2025
Main discipline (Hold'em, Omaha, Mixed games)
No-Limit Hold'em primarily, with success also in Pot-Limit Hold'em and mixed events
Format specialization (tournaments/cash/online/live)
Primarily live tournaments with frequent participation in high roller formats; also high stakes cash games
Preferred table size (6-max, full ring, heads-up)
Full ring and 6-max tables in tournament play
Known formats (NLHE, PLO, HORSE, others)
No-Limit Hold'em, Pot-Limit Hold'em, Pot-Limit Omaha, Mixed games
Specialization limits
Top level high roller buy-ins ($25K to $1M)
Favorite casinos/locations
Bellagio, Aria, Commerce Casino, various major Las Vegas venues, Monte Carlo
Style characterization (TAG, LAG, nitty, aggressive)
Smart, disciplined, and aggressive with a patience and strategic approach combining tight-aggressive traits at times
Known for bluffs/traps
Has a reputation for disciplined play, using selective bluffs effectively, rarely fancy but very strategic
Mathematical or intuitive approach
Combines mathematical and strategic thinking with psychological skills developed from magician background
Style adaptability
Highly adaptable to opponents and table dynamics, known for game flow reading
Playing strengths
Deep knowledge of tournament strategy, chip control, disciplined hand selection, psychological tactics
GTO strategy usage
Employs GTO principles combined with exploitative play depending on opponents
Poker software usage
Not publicly specified, but likely uses poker software for analysis and training
Television appearances (list of shows with specific episodes/dates)
Multiple appearances on High Stakes Poker, Poker After Dark, WSOP final tables live broadcast, ESPN coverage
High Stakes Poker participation (seasons/episodes)
Participated in all seasons of GSN’s High Stakes Poker
Poker After Dark appearances (episodes/dates)
Regular player on NBC’s Poker After Dark through multiple seasons
Documentary films featuring (titles and links)
Appeared in poker documentaries and films such as "Runner Runner" (2013) and "Lucky You" (2007)
Major publication interviews (publication names, article titles, links)
Featured in numerous interviews by PokerNews, CardPlayer, and other major poker media outlets
Podcast appearances (podcast names, episode titles, dates, links)
Frequent guest on poker podcasts including high stakes poker strategy shows
Posting frequency in social media
Moderately active on Twitter with poker-related and personal updates
Type of content in social media
Poker insights, personal life, promotional posts related to sponsorship and stakes
Current sponsors (company names, deal details if public)
Former face of UltimatePoker.com, Owner and promoter of 3Bet Poker Clothing
Sponsorship contract history (previous sponsors, dates)
Sponsored by UltimatePoker.com, 3Bet Poker Clothing ownership and ambassador roles
Poker site ambassadorship (site names, contract details)
Ambassador for StakeKings staking platform since around 2017
Own business (business names, descriptions, websites)
Co-owner and partner in 3Bet Poker Clothing line
Poker project investments (project names, involvement details)
Ambassador and promoter for StakeKings (poker staking platform)
Educational materials (book titles with ISBN, course names with platforms, video series titles with links)
Authored "The Magician's Secrets for Winning Tournaments" strategic guidebook
Merchandise (product types, where sold, links)
3Bet Poker Clothing brand merchandise with personal line of tees
Written poker books (titles, publication years, ISBN, publisher)
The Magician's Secrets for Winning Tournaments (2012)
Poker publication articles (publication names, article titles, publication dates, links)
Contributor or subject of poker strategy articles in PokerNews and PokerVIP
Poker scandal involvement (scandal names, details, outcomes)
Disqualified from 2016 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure $5,300 Main Event for urinating in a bottle due to prop bet
Poker industry awards (award names, years, organizations)
Candidate for 2020 Poker Hall of Fame induction
Hall of Fame inclusion (hall names, induction years)
Nominated for Poker Hall of Fame induction (as of 2020)
Peer recognition (specific recognitions, award details)
Widely respected among peers for tournament skill and table presence
Special achievements (achievement descriptions, recognition details)
Winner of the largest single payout in poker history ($18.3 million) at Big One for One Drop 2012; three WSOP bracelets; two WPT titles
Records associated with name (record descriptions, verification)
Held record for largest ever live tournament poker cash at time of 2012 victory
Contribution to poker development (specific contributions, recognition)
Raised profile for high stakes poker, promoted poker clothing line, ambassador for staking platform
Charity tournaments (tournament names, amounts raised, beneficiaries)
Winner of Big One for One Drop, a charity event benefiting One Drop Foundation raising millions for clean water
Legacy in poker world (specific legacy aspects, community impact)
Regarded as one of the most charismatic and skilled tournament players of the poker boom era with record-setting achievements
Industry influence (specific influences, changes attributed)
Influenced poker branding with clothing business and staking ambassador roles, promoted poker’s high stakes scene and charity integration
WSOP (World Series of Poker) - all events all years
2019 | USA | World Series of Poker | Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino | $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event | 10,000 | 82 | $82,365 | 8569 | | |||| 2018 | USA | World Series of Poker | Rio | $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event | 10,000 | 132 | $57,010 | 7874 | | |||| 2017 | USA | World Series of Poker | Rio | $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em Super Turbo Bounty | 1,000 | 250 | $998 | 1868 | | |||| 2012 | USA | World Series of Poker | Rio | $1,000,000 No-Limit Hold'em The Big One for One Drop | 1,000,000 | 1 | $18,346,673 | 48 | | |||| 2012 | Europe | WSOP Europe | Casino Barrière | €1,100 No Limit Hold'em | 1,100 | 1 | €126,207 | | | |||| 2004 | USA | World Series of Poker | Rio | $2,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em | 2,000 | 1 | $184,860 | | |
EPT (European Poker Tour) - all seasons
2014 | Bahamas | EPT | PokerStars Caribbean Adventure | $100,000 No Limit Hold'em Eight Max | 100,000 | 4 | $575,920 | | |
Super High Roller Series
2013 | USA | WSOP | Rio | $111,111 One Drop High Roller | 111,111 | 4 | $1,433,438 | | |
Co-commentator for ESPN WSOP Main Event final tables since 2011