Eric Afriat

Eric Afriat was born in Saint-Laurent, Quebec, Canada, and now resides in Miami Beach, Florida. Before embarking on his poker career, he spent 25 years working as a clothing importer and designer, and he remains active in real estate investment. Afriat discovered poker in high school, playing Five Card Draw and Seven Card Stud, and has considered himself a recreational player ever since.

Afriat's first eight in-the-money finishes between December 2008 and July 2010 were all final-table appearances. His first notable cash came in July 2010 when he finished sixth in the $10,300 WPT Bellagio Cup for $118,950. He secured his first tournament victory in July 2012, winning the $5,180 Bellagio Cup VIII for $110,128.

Afriat has cemented his legacy on the World Poker Tour (WPT) with three Main Tour titles. His first came in April 2014 when he outlasted a stacked field in the $3,500 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Showdown, earning a career-best $1,081,184. He became a two-time champion in January 2018, topping 1,243 players in the $3,500 WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open for $651,928.

His third WPT victory occurred in February 2020 on home soil, winning the C$5,000 WPT Fallsview for C$508,021 ($383,539). He also finished as runner-up in the April 2019 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Showdown ($465,120) and placed sixth in the May 2024 WPT Choctaw Championship ($75,000). As of November 2024, Afriat is in strong contention for a fourth title, taking the chip lead on Day 2 of the WPT bestbet Scramble Championship. He has openly stated his ambition to surpass Darren Elias's record of four WPT titles.

While the WPT is his specialty, Afriat has also shined at other major events. At the World Series of Poker, his closest brush with a bracelet came in 2018 when he finished fifth in the $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em The Closer. He has accumulated 15 WSOP cashes overall.

In 2024, Afriat made a deep run at the European Poker Tour Paris Main Event, finishing sixth for €261,650. He also won a $15,100 PokerGO Tour event at the U.S. Poker Open for $288,000, and came second in a $5,100 event the week prior. In 2022, he won back-to-back events at the Seminole Hard Rock 'N' Roll Poker Open, including a $400 Seniors 50+ tournament for $9,110 after a three-way chop.

Afriat is known for an aggressive, high-volatility style, frequently raising and re-raising preflop to apply pressure. Postflop, he is capable of large bluffs and adjusts based on opponent tendencies. His loud, celebratory reactions at the table have drawn both criticism and admiration, making him an entertaining figure in the poker community. He carries the informal label "Millionaire Maker" due to his WPT victory.

A controversial incident occurred at the 2024 EPT Paris Main Event. After losing a large pot on a bluff against Barny Boatman, Afriat became visibly frustrated and announced he would deliberately use all his remaining time-bank cards to end the night, sparking discussion about sportsmanship.

Afriat continues to compete actively, with a focus on WPT events. He has stated he prefers the WPT atmosphere over the WSOP, saying, "To me, the WSOP doesn't have the same charm as the WPT." His recent results include the deep run at EPT Paris and strong finishes at the U.S. Poker Open and WPT Choctaw. With three titles already, he is widely regarded as one of the all-time great performers on the World Poker Tour, and his pursuit of a record-tying fourth title remains a major storyline in the poker world.