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Antonio Esfandiari is a professional poker player of Iranian descent. He moved the San Jose, California area at a young age and became a professional magician at the age of 19, before he started playing poker. In 2004 he started his poker career, winning nearly 1.4 million dollars. A few months later he won a bracelet in his first World Series of Poker event.

Growing up in a Hispanic neighborhood amongst many Mexican Americans in the San Jose area, he changed his name from Amir to Antonio, as it would help his magic career. He performed magic under that name, and eventually turned to poker for a living. He is sometimes nicknamed "The Magician" because of his former career.

As a professional he has appeared in the 2nd and 3rd season of the Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament and finished last his first time out, but came back to win second place in impressive fashion. He has been featured in each season of the GSN program High Stakes Poker and is a prominent player in NBC's series Poker After Dark. He is also the co-star of the television show I Bet You with Phil Laak.

In 2008 Antonio Esfandiari made it to the final table at the PokerStars.com final in Monte Carlo, finishing 8th overall. He reportedly made roughly 266,004 dollars. A year later he would finish 24th on day 7 of the tournament, and earned $352,832 in the process.

Despite not having a deep career in poker, he continually excels in tournaments, and has made roughly 3.4 million dollars in live tournament winnings. He is a popular figure in the mainstream world of poker, always involved in major programs on television, and is even the face of World Poker Tour's, Poker-Made Millionaire.

He tours the poker circuit often, and is good friends with fellow poker professional player Phil Laak. He is known for his "chip trick" techniques, and continually makes moves in the world of poker. His credentials involve one bracelet from the World Series of Poker, 9 money finishes, and 24th overall in 2009. He has also one World Poker Tour title, has gone to two final tables, and had five money finishes. In regards to the European Poker Tour he hasn't received a title, but made it to one final table and had one money finish. The sky is the limit for Antonio Esfandiari, as he chases down a world title, and more money in what has been a naturally progressing poker career, which is far more successful than his previous magic endeavor.