Hamid Dastmalchi is a professional poker player from Iran. He started playing poker at the tender age of 12 and was captivated by the game. When he grew up Hamid Dastmalchi moved to San Diego, California, United States, where he became a real-estate investor. Despite his occupation the dream of making a poker career took over, so he started entering poker tournaments.
Hamid Dastmalchi was claimed a professional poker player after he won the main event of the 1992 World Series of Poker along with the one million dollars first prize. He was close to not getting his prize, as the casino refused to pay him. The casino was in the middle of changing ownership and as the money was issued under the old ownership, the new owners tried to get out of paying him. The case was brought up to the gaming commission and later was decided that Hami Dastmalchi should be allowed to cash in the chips, so he received his well deserved prize. He has also participated in several other WSOP tournaments, some of which are the 1985 World championship, where he took 5th place and the 1995 26th annual WSOP, where he took 4th place.
Hamid Dastmalchi is respected as one of the best no-limit tournament players. Even though Hamid Dastmalchi rarely enters poker tournaments now-a-days, his total live tournament winnings exceed $1,642,463 and he is ranked 6th on the all-time money list. Altogether he has 3 WSOP bracelets, 3 first place finishes and 12 money cashes.
Top 5 achievements:
Tournament Place Profit
23rd Annual World Series of Poker Event #20 - WSOP World Championship - No Limit Hold'em - 1st place, $1,000,000 profit
26th Annual World Series of Poker Event #25 - WSOP World Championship - No Limit Hold'em - 4th, $173,000 profit
17th Annual World Series of Poker Event #3 - WSOP No Limit Hold'em - 1st place, $165,000 profit
24th Annual World Series of Poker Event #15 - WSOP Pot Limit Hold'em - 1st place, $114,000 profit
16th Annual World Series of Poker Event #14 - WSOP World Championship - No Limit Hold'em - 5th place, $70,000 profit