Farzad Bonyadi
Born in 1959 in Tehran, Iran, Farzad Bonyadi was introduced to poker by his grandfather at the age of seven. Farzad would often sit around the table and watch his relatives play their home game. Although he enjoyed it, poker was not in his plans.
Farzad grew up during the revolution of Iran, an extremely violent time. After getting through it, he decided to go to college in Vienna to study agriculture. It wasn’t until he moved to the U.S. and settled in Los Angeles in 1983 that poker was reintroduced into his life. Through a few friends Farzad got a job as a proposition player (a player who works for the casino to help keep games filled a casino. Although the job didn’t pay well, Farzad took the opportunity to improve at poker. Farzad got the opportunity to play in all forms of poker, and quickly mastered them all. Soon enough Bonyadi was playing at the highest limits he could find.
Farzad got his big break when The Commerce Casino, known for one of the biggest poker rooms and biggest games in the world, offered him a hosting job of the high limit games. For years Farzad played against the best players in the world in the $400-800 and $600-1200 mixeds games, holding his own against the likes of Johnny Chan, Ted Forrest, and Howard Lederer. Farzad had earned a reputation as one of the best, if not the best, cash game players in L.A.
In 1997, Farzad took a stab at tournament play, entering into his first World Series of Poker. Although he did not fare well in the first event he played in, he ended up winning the second event, the two thousand dollar buy-in Limit Hold’em event, for over $400,000. In 2004 and 2005, he took down two more bracelets, one in the Deuce to Seven Lowball event, and another in the No Limit Hold’em event, earning him his third bracelet. Farzad’s tournament winnings now exceed two million dollars.
He and his wife now have a child so you won’t see Farzad in many casinos. But often you will see him playing some of the highest cash games online at Full Tilt.
Common Misspellings: Farsad Bonyadi, Farzad Bonyani, Farzod Bonyadi, Farzad Banyadi, Pharzad Bonyadi
Learn more about Farzad Bonyadi at Full Tilt Poker.
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