Key Highlights
- Antonio Esfandiari wins one of the sickest coolers ever on High Stakes Poker for $824k.
- Esfandiari, a three-time WSOP bracelet winner, made his triumphant return to the game.
- The hand featured a “one-outer” situation that left many poker fans in awe.
Antonio Esfandiari’s Return and Epic Hand on High Stakes Poker
Antonio “The Magician” Esfandiari, a three-time World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner, made his triumphant return to the world of high-stakes poker. This comeback was nothing short of spectacular, as Esfandiari secured one of the biggest pots of his life in one of the most memorable “coolers” ever witnessed on High Stakes Poker.
The Legendary Hand
The hand in question took place during Episode 7 of Season 15 of High Stakes Poker. In a $500/$1,000 no-limit hold’em game, Esfandiari found himself facing off against Sameh Elamaway and Justin Gavri. The action began with Elamaway raising to $5,000 holding A♠A♥.
Esfandiari, who had nearly $600,000 in chips as the player with the biggest stack, called with 8♠8♣. Gavri also decided to call with J♣7♣.
The flop came down: 6♠8♦8♥, giving Esfandiari a set of eights and providing him with an excellent starting hand. The turn card was the A♦, the worst possible card in this scenario as it gave Elamaway a full house (Aces-Full). Nick Schulman, one of the actors on the show, couldn’t contain his shock: “Oh my god,” he exclaimed.
The One-Outer and the Snap Call
Elamaway bet $10,000 out of desperation to value-catch any potential drawing hands. Esfandiari, who had no real draws on the board, made a bold raise to $37,000. Gavri quickly folded his weak hand, and Elamaway, still holding his full house, bet another $85,000 in an attempt to extract value from what he thought was Esfandiari’s weaker position.
Esfandiari, however, called with confidence, having the best of it.
The river brought a 3♦, rendering Elamaway’s full house irrelevant as his only chance at winning now required him to hit an impossible straight flush. He bet $225,000 out of desperation, leaving about $93,000 behind.
Esfandiari made the snap call, and both players went all-in. The pot of $824,500 was Esfandiari’s for the taking, securing one of the biggest coolers ever on High Stakes Poker. The hand echoed a similar legendary cooler played between Gus Hansen and Daniel Negreanu nearly 20 years ago during the Gane Show Network days.
Replay Poker: Relive the Epic Hand
For poker enthusiasts who missed the live action, High Stakes Poker is exclusively available on PokerGO. Fans can relive this incredible hand and many more by subscribing to the service. The Lucky Hearts Poker Open returns from January 6-20 with a $3 Million Guaranteed Championship Event, offering fans even more opportunities to witness such epic moments.
The drama and excitement of high-stakes poker continue to captivate audiences worldwide, proving that the thrill of the game remains as strong as ever. Whether you’re an avid poker player or just curious about one of the most memorable hands in recent history, this episode is not to be missed.
