Farzad Bonyadi
Farzad "Freddy" Bonyadi is an Iranian professional poker player based in Aliso Viejo, California, who has won 3 World Series of Poker bracelets.
Bonyadi moved from Iran to America in 1983, where he worked as an executive host in the LA Commerce Casino and as a shift manager at Hollywood Park Casino.
Bonyadi first major tournament success came when he won the $2,000 limit hold'em event at the 1998 World Series of Poker, defeating a final table that included Mimi Tran and John Cernuto on the way to a $429,940 first prize. In the same WSOP, he also made the final table of the $1,500 seven card stud split event, and placed in the money in the $10,000 no limit hold'em main event.
Bonyadi also made a final table in the Season 2 World Poker Tour Legends of Poker event, where he finished 5th at a final table featuring Mel Judah, Paul Phillips, T. J. Cloutier, Chip Jett and Phil Laak. Bonyadi made a second WPT final table when he finished runner-up to Scott Seiver in the Season 9 WPT Championship, netting $1,069,900.
Bonyadi has also won WSOP bracelets in the 2004 $1,000 deuce to seven triple draw and the 2005 no limit hold'em tournaments.
At the 2018 WSOP, Bonyadi's mother, Farhintaj Bonyadi, won the event, making them the first mother/son World Series of Poker bracelet winners.
As of 2018, his total live tournament winnings exceed $4,250,000. His 29 cashes as the WSOP account for over $1,950,000 of those winnings.
