Amazing Sport Stories: Bill Walton’s The Grateful Team - Poker's new deal

Download Poker's new deal

Antonio Esfandiari's heart was beating like a drum. $18 million was stacked up about 12 feet away from where he was sitting. Only one other poker player stood between him and the biggest prize in the game's history.

Everyone held their breath as the dealer revealed the final card.

For Esfandiari, it represented the culmination of a career which began in very different circumstances; for poker itself, the change was immeasurable. This is the story of how a card game went from smoky back rooms to the global sporting mainstream.

Audio scenes have been re-created. Let us know what you think #AmazingSportStories

Published on Monday, 20th May 2024.

Available Podcasts from Amazing Sport Stories: Bill Walton’s The Grateful Team

Subscribe to Amazing Sport Stories: Bill Walton’s The Grateful Team

We are not the BBC, we only list available podcasts. To find out more about the programme including episodes available on BBC iPlayer, go to the Amazing Sport Stories: Bill Walton’s The Grateful Team webpage.