Amir Vahedi

Amir Vahedi (February 25, 1961 – January 8, 2010) was an Iranian professional poker player born in Tehran, Iran. who won a World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet at the 2003 World Series of Poker in the $1,500 No Limit Hold'em event.
Vahedi was a resident of Sherman Oaks, California and was the first poker tutor of the actor Ben Affleck. He is known for the quote "In order to live, you must be willing to die", in reference to No Limit Hold'em tournament strategy.

Vahedi was named no limit Texas hold 'em player of the year in 2001 and was runner-up to Men Nguyen for Card Player Magazine's 2003 player of the year. In 2003 he made the final table of the Main Event of the World Series of Poker and finished sixth, earning $250,000. Earlier in the series, he won his first WSOP bracelet in the $1,500 No Limit Hold'em event for $270,000.

During the 2003 World Series of Poker, in reference to the natural tendency of players to tighten up on the bubble (when only a few eliminations are left to the money), Vahedi stated: "In order to live, you must be willing to die."

Vahedi was also the season three champion of the Ultimate Poker Challenge.

During his lifetime, Vahedi won over $3,250,000 in live tournament play. His 9 cashes at the WSOP account for $671,216 of those winnings.

World Series of Poker bracelets

Vahedi served in the Iranian army during the Iran–Iraq War before becoming a war refugee and immigrating to the US. He was one of Ben Affleck's early poker tutors.

Amir had two brothers, Saeed and Masoud, two sisters, Farideh and Fahimeh, and a son Johnathon, and daughter Chanel.

Vahedi died due to possible complications of diabetes on January 8, 2010. An autopsy report is pending.