AOL World Series of Poker Pro Diaries: Antonio Estanfadari - Getting the Hunger Back

Antonio Estanfadari, our magic man, discusses keeping the hunger alive and bringing your A game.

I love poker. I mean…who DOESN’T!?! its funny how you can through periods of playing good and you can certainly go through periods of playing BAD. Everybody needs a reality check once in a while and I have to thank my father (Bijan) for giving me one before the series. After I won my bracelet and the WPT in 04 my desire to need to win went WAY down. I’ll never forget a few months ago when my dad said to me “Antonio you lost your hunger to win”. Boy did that hit me hard. And he was right. For 3 years now I had been playing my C game. I had an A game but it hadn’t been around for quite some time. I decided right then and there to start playing my guts out again.



I was SO focused this WSOP. I didn’t go out more than 2 times the whole month. I worked out. I slept good. I ate healthy. I went to yoga. I did EVERYTHING I could to get my head out of my ass. I played my little heart out this year and although my results did not match I am still VERY happy with the way I played. All you can do in poker is maximize your equity and wish for the best. Nothing more nothing less. I think I did a great job of that this year and even though nothing spanned out I’m still very content. It’s as if I had an awakening. I HAVE to win.

Morale of the story-don’t get comfortable with what you have. Stride to further succeed. Always give it 100%. Play your best. Go with your gut. Follow your heart.