2013 World Series of Poker

Event #14: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em
Day: 1
123
Event Info
2013 World Series of Poker
Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
k9
Prize
$454,424
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,500
Total Entries
1,819
Level Info
Level
29
Blinds
40,000 / 80,000
Ante
10,000
Players Left 1 / 1,819

The Grand Illusion

Level 1 : 25/25, 0 ante
Antonio Esfandiari on Day 1
Antonio Esfandiari on Day 1

We strolled by Antonio Esfandiari's table and caught the Magician up to his old tricks. Casually munching on a nutritious lunch, the winner of the WSOP Big One for One Drop and poker's largest prize in history three-bet an unknown opponent. The amateur pushed his stack forward and Esfandiari called, rolling over the {Q-Hearts}{Q-Clubs}.

His opponent tabled, {A-Clubs}{A-Diamonds}, however, and was in great shape to cripple a bracelet winner. When the flop brought the {A-Hearts}{10-Diamonds}{6-Hearts} to the felt, giving the amateur top set and all but assuring his double, and Esfandiari continued eating his salad, seemingly without a care in the world.

The turn then came {9-Hearts}, and before the suspense had time to build, the dealer peeled off the {7-Hearts} on the river. With a runner-runner flush, the pro claimed the pot, and his shell shocked opponent's starting stack.

Esfandiari simply smiled the serene smile of a man living a charmed life, and the amateur quickly departed the tournament floor, having found out that in poker, even three aces can be nothing more than an illusion.