Antonio Esfandiari – TV Appearances

Antonio Esfandiari on TV

Antonio Esfandiari is one of the most popular poker players around. He is one of poker’s biggest TV stars and has featured on most of the televised poker shows on the air. From his first big million dollar win on the World Poker Tour in 2004 to his deep finish at the World Series of Poker in 2009, he has done it all. He has appeared on multiple seasons of the most popular poker cash game show High Stakes Poker and even has his own reality TV show called “I Bet You” with buddy Phil Laak.

World Poker Tour

Antonio Esfandiari was one of the WPT’s earliest stars having first appeared on the air during the WPT 49’er Gold Rush in 2002 when he finished the event in 3rd place winning $44,000. He received additional fame from this particular final table for eliminating poker brat Phil Hellmuth who then threw one of his signature temper tantrums as the Magician did his famous “wave” to celebrate!

Then in 2004, he would become recognized as one of the best players in the world for winning the WPT L.A. Poker Classic for $1.4 million making him the youngest WPT champion in history at that time.

He would keep up TV appearances by winning the WPT Five Diamond Classic in 2010 for $870,000 beating out a star-studded final table that included high stakes internet player Andrew Robl, WSOP Main Event runner-up John Racener and female poker star Vanessa Rousso.

His magic tricks have continued to entertain and amaze poker fans for many years as he is one of the only magicians on tour!

World Series of Poker

The Magician would go deep in the World Series of Poker Championship Event in 2009 when he made it to the final three tables and was finally eliminated in 24th place making himself $353,000 richer in the process.

He also won the WSOP $2,000 Pot Limit Hold’em event in 2004 earning a coveted WSOP bracelet and $185,000.

High Stakes Poker

Antonio has appeared in each season of the popular TV poker cash game High Stakes Poker up to the most recent season where he won a memorably huge $600,000 pot against well known pro Barry Greenstein.

High Stakes Poker is arguably the most entertaining high stakes cash game on TV as it features an all star line-up of poker’s best players including Phil Laak, Daniel Negreanu, Tom Dwan, Phil Ivey, Johnny Chan, Doyle Brunson and many more. He has stepped into the biggest cash game on TV and battled it out with the best players.

I Bet You

He is also the star of his very own reality TV show called “I Bet You” on MOJO TV. The show co-stars his buddy Phil Laak as the two of them travel the U.S.A. making prop bets on any and everything outrageous. These guys will bet as much as $5,000 as they go head-to-head. These rivals take each other on for pride and cash. This is TV for guys at its best. The show is summed up by its opening line “The following is what happens when you give two degenerate gamblers their own TV show …”

Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament

Esfandiari would again shine brightly in this Sit N Go shootout tournament format where he would eventually finish as the runner-up in Season 3 for a total prize of $225,000. In heads-up play to get there, he would beat Jennifer Tilly, Phil Hellmuth, Johnny Chan and Gus Hansen. In the end, Todd Brunson beat him out for the title.

Poker After Dark

Antonio appeared on 6 aired episodes of the popular NBC Poker After Dark show.  Highlights of his appearances include three runner-up finishes.  In two of them, he notoriously finished in 2nd place to his best buddy and biggest rival Phil Laak.

Poker TV Superstar!

Antonio Esfandiari is definitely one of the most popular TV poker players on the planet. He seems to pop up on just about every poker TV show on the air, from tournaments to cash games.

His ability to entertain the audience coupled with his amazing reads at the table and willingness to play the best players at the highest stakes means that he is going to be making many more appearances and pleasing fans worldwide for years to come.

In addition, when poker fans watch his reality TV show, they get to see a unique side of the Magician away from the poker felt, relaxing and having fun with buddy Phil Laak!