An Iranian Business Man Takes on the Pros With a Smile as His Weapon
Two years ago, Ali Reza Fatehi, a businessman from Iran and based in Dubai, emerged on the international poker circuit and finished third in the €100,000 Super High Roller for €825,500 at the PokerStars and Monte-Carlo©Casino EPT.
This week, he's back at the EPT in Monaco. Fatehi once again reached the final three before having to settle for the very same position, earning another €669,920 for his efforts.
"You can see a lot of Iranians start to come to the events — we can do it!"
He's doing well while the fields are dominated by professional players. His secret weapon to take on some of the world's best poker players at the poker tables: an almost infectious smile no matter the outcome of a hand.
“The €100,000 in 2016 was the first-ever tournament that I entered with such a big buy-in," he said. "I don't remember what happened. Did I get lucky? Did I play good? I don't know. And all that with the toughest players in the world.
"This time, it was different because I now have a lot more experience with them and I can feel I cannot compare myself with me from two years ago. I'm coming to be a winner this time, but you see the hand against Christoph [Vogelsang] I cannot do anything with the nut straight on the flop, and he had the gutshot straight flush draw and hit.”
Fatehi picked up poker as a kid and learned different variations early on. They started with five-card poker when he was a teenager. Eventually, they moved on to a hidden-card game with others open, then Mexican poker, and finally, hold'em. He was taught poker by Farbod Goharbin, who he lost all his money to in just one hour at the home game. "But then, I taught him blackjack and won all the money back!" Fatehi joked.
In 2016, a business trip to the Cote D'Azur further lit his poker fire. Now, Fatehi is a regular face in events all over, but especially PokerStars-hosted festivals.
Furthermore, he has encouraged his friends and countrymen to take part in poker tournaments. He is friends with EPT Main Event champion Hossein Ensan, among others, and several Iranians have taken part in higher stakes tournaments in the last few years.
“I invite all my friends. I push them," he said. "I didn't know anything about poker before, and you see how I run it up. And after that, if you check those two years, you can see a lot of Iranians start to come to the events — we can do it!"
Fatehi has picked a very specific tournament type to improve his game, one that comes with a big buy-in and tends to attract some of the best poker players in the world. Because how else would someone be able to get better if not facing the best?
“I enjoy to challenge with the best in the world," he said. "I prefer to play with them because I can improve myself more.”
"You have to enjoy all seconds of it, and I don't want to sit there like a robot and just play poker."
The World Series of Poker in Las Vegas would be an option. However, the visa and travel requirements are quite complicated. Instead, Fatehi has decided to continue his efforts in the European poker circuit. And whenever the Iranian is around the tables, his trademark smile is around.
“In business, with family and friends, in gaming, I am always like that," he said. "I make jokes and like to have fun. You know, it is not just playing poker, it is life. You have to enjoy all seconds of it, and I don't want to sit there like a robot and just play poker.”
His smile and positive attitude also influence the high roller regulars. He believes such positivity is infectious, and he can see how he lifts the mood at the table with his easy going approach.
Fatehi would love to make a deep run in the €5,300 Main Event. It's not just the monetary aspect that is important to him, though. He stressed that enjoyment of the game comes first.
Speaking of money though, Fatehi has moved up to second place in the Iranian all-time money list behind Amir Vahedi. If his results over the last two years are any indication of things to come, it's only a matter of time before he will take over the top spot.
Fatehi participated in the PokerStars Championship Cash Challenge. Watch the episodes, right here.
