Remembering Amir Vahedi

The poker world is in mourning after one of the more colourful professional poker players has passed away. Amir Vahedi died from what is believed to be complications due to his diabetes and blood sugar levels on January 8th 2010. Vahedi was well-known for his love of large cigars and the poker lifestyle. He was a prominent poker tournament player and had many good results at the World Series of Poker. He even coached Ben Affleck.

News of his passing broke after Mark Seif posted a short blog breaking the news. Many poker players posted RIP messages via their Twitter accounts and messages from Joe Sebok, Howard Lederer, Bryan Micon and other well-known professionals have appeared on Twitter and quoted in various poker articles since new of his passing was made public. All of the players who paid tribute to him spoke of a gentle and kind man who would be much missed. Although poker players are normally spoken of fondly when they pass away, you get a sense reading the messages that Amir Vahedi was a very popular member of the poker playing community and the sentiments expressed in the messages of remembrance were very genuine.

Vahedi broke through as a player literally just before the poker boom commenced. He finished in sixth place at the World Series of Poker 2003 main event where Chris Moneymaker won the tournament and signalled the beginning of the glorious poker boom that we still enjoy the effects of today. For his sixth place finish Amir collected a prize of $250,000 which was his second big cash of the World Series that year.

Before the poker boom Vahedi was a regular participant in many poker tournaments particularly in the LA Classic series and New Orleans events. He posted many final table appearances and won events collecting between $16,000 and $19,000 at a time when prizes were small. Although small compared to the prize money poker players can win today for winning a poker tournament Amirs results in 2001 show many final table appearances and many victories. This participation made Amir a very visible member of the poker community and he met thousands of players during a lengthy and full career. After the fields grew thanks to the Moneymaker effect Amir still managed to cash in many tournaments, this is a testament to his poker playing ability.

During the 2003 World Series Amir won Event 22 for $270,000 and his first bracelet. This allowed him to buy into the main event where he made the final table. He also cashed twice more in the series. After the series he won the Legends of Poker WPT season 2 event for $41,000 beating Kenna James who also featured at the final table of that event. He continued to show good results every month and was a constant part of the poker tournament circuit.

2005 was a big year for Amir. He won four major tournaments cashing in the region of $600,000 in combined prize money. These victories came in both Limit and No Limit Texas Hold’em. He continued to play in many poker tournaments and his final big win was the final table bubble in a seventh place finish at the WPT World Championship season 6 taking home $237,435.

He was renowned for his serious approach to the game and willingness to put his tournament on the line when going for victory. Amir Vahedi always played to win and his results show that his aggressive style paid dividends for him. He was ahead of his time in his aggressive approach to the game and his style is perhaps continued by the play of online poker tournament specialists. Amir Vahedi will be remembered as a good poker tournament player who lived his poker life to the full and is missed by all of the poker playing community.

By Malcolm Clarke

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