Antonio Esfandiari

Biography: Antonio was born Amir Esfandiari on Dec 8, 1978 in Tehran, Iran. When he was 9 years old, he moved to the Silicon Valley in California. He spoke no English and had to learn quickly.

At the age of 19, Antonio began working as a professional magician. One of his engagements required him to perform at a Texas Hold'em Tournament. He became fascinated by the game and started entering tournaments.

He's earned money at 16 major tournaments, appears on numerous poker telecasts, and has given up magic to pursue his professional gambling career. He's even won a bracelet at the World Series of Poker.