Antonio Esfandiari recently made a remarkable comeback to the world of High Stakes Poker, culminating in a thrilling victory that netted him $824,000. Known as “The Magician,” Esfandiari is a renowned figure in poker, boasting three World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets. Although he has taken a step back from the competitive scene to focus on family life, he continues to demonstrate his skills through various livestreams and television appearances.
Epic Showdown in High Stakes Poker
Esfandiari participated in Episode 6 of Season 15 of High Stakes Poker, which was released on PokerGO. His standout moment came in Episode 7 during a significant $500/$1,000 no-limit hold’em game. The action began as Sameh Elamaway, the CEO of Scratch and a recognizable face from Season 13, raised to $5,000 with pocket aces (A♠A♥).
The Dramatic Turn of Events
Esfandiari, seated in late position, decided to call with 8♠8♣, while Justin Gavri, in the big blind, also called with J♣7♣. The flop was particularly favorable for Esfandiari, as it revealed 6♠8♦8♥, giving him four of a kind. The excitement was palpable as commentator Nick Schulman exclaimed in disbelief.
- Flop: 6♠8♦8♥ – Esfandiari flops quads.
- Turn: A♦ – Elamaway hits aces-full.
- River: 3♦ – No improvement for Elamaway.
The betting intensified when Elamaway, looking to capitalize on his strong hand, bet $10,000. Esfandiari, with the largest stack at approximately $600,000, raised to $37,000. Following Gavri’s fold, Elamaway three-bet to $85,000, entirely unaware that he was drawing to a one-outer.
Massive Pot Created
As the river brought the 3♦, Elamaway made a significant bet of $225,000, leaving around $93,000 behind. Esfandiari responded with an aggressive raise, leading to a snap-call. This decisive moment created a stunning pot of $824,500, marking it as one of the most notable coolers in High Stakes Poker history.
Historical Context
This hand is reminiscent of a legendary pot between Gus Hansen and Daniel Negreanu nearly two decades ago, where both players flopped a set and Hansen secured quads on the turn, winning a pot worth $575,500.
Fans can catch all episodes of High Stakes Poker exclusively on PokerGO, including this thrilling showdown featuring Antonio Esfandiari.
