Antonio Esfandiari, one of poker’s most recognizable names, made a rare return to the felt on Hustler Casino Live and proved he can still compete at the highest level. Playing in a $100/$200 no-limit hold’em cash game in Los Angeles, “The Magician” finished the six-hour session as the night’s biggest winner, booking a $348,100 profit.
Esfandiari’s Commanding Performance
Although Esfandiari stepped away from poker several years ago to focus on family life, he occasionally reappears on livestreams and at the World Series of Poker (WSOP). His second Hustler Casino Live appearance in recent weeks turned into one of his most impressive livestream performances in years.
He topped the table by a wide margin, while Brandon Steven also closed the session with a solid $189,100 profit. Sam Kiki — better known as “Senor Tilt” and founder of the Monkey Tilt online casino — endured the roughest night, finishing down $258,300.
The $175,000 Bluff Call
One of the defining hands of the evening occurred when Esfandiari picked off a massive bluff from Kiki. After Kiki limped the straddled button with 8♣6♣, the small blind Han called with Q♥2♣. Esfandiari, holding A♣4♣ in the big blind, raised to $3,000, and only Kiki continued.
The flop came out 7♦5♠Q♠, giving Kiki an open-ended straight draw. Esfandiari checked and then called a $4,000 bet holding only ace-high.
The turn brought the A♦, improving Esfandiari to top pair. He led for $10,000, which Kiki called. The river was the 8♠, completing potential flushes. Esfandiari checked, and Kiki fired a bold $70,000 bet, about twice the pot. After a lengthy deliberation, Esfandiari made the call and claimed the $175,000 pot, further extending his lead.
Kings Hold in a $237,000 Clash
Esfandiari added even more to his stack later in a matchup against “Doc Hollywood.” Holding pocket kings against pocket nines, the two agreed to run the board twice for a $237,000 pot. Esfandiari’s kings held on both runs, securing another significant win of the night.
Opponents Face Steep Losses
While Esfandiari’s night was marked by big pots and sharp decisions, others struggled. Kiki’s downswing continued when he lost a $100,900 hand to Steve — a player remembered for benefiting from Tom Goldstein’s infamous error during the 2024 Hustler Casino Live Million Dollar Game. In this hand, Steve turned a straight to beat Kiki’s flopped two pair, deepening Kiki’s losses.
A Career of Historic Wins
Esfandiari’s Hustler Casino Live success adds to an already accomplished career. According to The Hendon Mob, he has $27.8 million in live tournament earnings. His most famous result remains his 2012 victory in the $1,000,000 buy-in Big One for One Drop, where he earned $18.3 million — one of the largest payouts in poker history.
Hustler Casino Live continues Thursday at 5 p.m. PT, with Nik Airball and Sam Kiki among those scheduled to return.
