Amir Vahedi

Amir Vahedi was born on February 25, 1961, in Tehran, Iran. He served in the Iranian military and fought in the Iran-Iraq War. After the war, he immigrated to Germany as a war refugee before obtaining a visa to the United States, settling in Sherman Oaks, California. Prior to entering the poker world, he was involved in various business ventures. Vahedi later became one of the early poker mentors of Hollywood actor Ben Affleck.

Vahedi's poker career peaked at the 2003 World Series of Poker (WSOP). He first won the $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em event, taking home $270,000 and his first WSOP gold bracelet. He then made the final table of the WSOP Main Event, finishing sixth for an additional $250,000. He cashed four times in that series.

Outside the WSOP, Vahedi achieved notable results in other tournaments:

• In 2005, he won the Limit Hold'em event at the Los Angeles Poker Classic (LAPC), earning $446,292, the largest single cash of his career.
• In 2005, he won Season 3 of the Ultimate Poker Challenge, earning $181,390.
• In 2008, he finished seventh in the Five Diamond World Poker Classic (WPT) Main Event for $237,435.

Vahedi's career tournament earnings total $3,276,428, with $671,216 from the WSOP. He had 9 WSOP cashes, 4 final table appearances, and 1 gold bracelet.

Vahedi was known for his humor and philosophical remarks at the poker table. His most famous quote, from the 2003 WSOP Main Event, was: "In order to live, you must be willing to die." This is often used to describe the daring spirit required at the table. His optimistic and cheerful personality made him well-liked among peers. The WSOP official tribute described him as "one of the brightest figures in the poker world."

After a long battle with diabetes, Vahedi died from complications of the disease on January 8, 2010, at the age of 48. His passing sparked widespread mourning in the poker community, with many professionals, including Howard Lederer, publicly expressing their condolences. Vahedi left a lasting mark on poker through his unique playing style and personal charisma.