Shahram "Shawn" Sheikhan

Childhood

Sheikhan was born into a family with significant social standing; his father was a high-ranking military officer and a judge in Iran. However, the Islamic Revolution in 1979 forced his family to flee the country due to the political upheaval and their status as a religious minority. At the age of nine, Sheikhan immigrated to the United States with his family, settling initially in California. His early years in the U.S. involved adapting to a new culture and language while his family managed small businesses such as gas stations.

Career

Sheikhan's interest in gambling was influenced by his parents, who often played card games socially. He began playing poker seriously in 1986 but faced early setbacks, including being ejected from a Caesars Palace game at 17 for being underage. Over time, he honed his skills and became a professional poker player based in Las Vegas.

He is known for his aggressive playing style and controversial table behavior, including incidents of poor etiquette that led to penalties during major tournaments. Notably, at the 2005 World Series of Poker (WSOP), he was involved in a heated exchange with fellow player Mike Matusow, resulting in penalties for both due to inappropriate conduct. Sheikhan finished 11th in that event, earning $600,000. He also made the final four in the 2006 National Heads-Up Poker Championship and placed third in the 2007 WSOP No Limit Deuce to Seven Lowball event. Additionally, he won a Poker After Dark title, defeating a field of prominent players and earning $120,000.

As of 2023, Sheikhan's total live tournament winnings exceed $1.5 million, with a significant portion coming from his WSOP cashes.

Beyond poker, Sheikhan owns a retail chain of tobacco and tattoo stores, diversifying his business interests outside of gambling.

Personal life

Sheikhan lives in Las Vegas with his wife and daughter. His personal life has been marked by legal troubles, including a 1995 conviction for misdemeanor sexual battery involving a 17-year-old girl, for which he served nine months in prison and five years of probation. This conviction later led to immigration issues, with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) attempting to deport him to Iran in 2007. However, deportation proceedings were halted due to the destruction of relevant records.

In 1999, Sheikhan was involved in a fatal car accident during heavy rain in Las Vegas, resulting in the death of a 91-year-old passenger in another vehicle.

More recently, in June 2022, he pled guilty to operating illegal marijuana dispensaries in Southern California. In November 2023, he was sentenced to four years in federal prison for distributing over three tons of marijuana through unlicensed operations.

Revenue

Sheikhan's poker career has earned him over $1.5 million in live tournament winnings. His business ventures in tobacco and tattoo retail also contribute to his income, although specific financial details are not publicly available.

Interesting facts

Sheikhan is known in the poker community for his fiery temperament and poor table etiquette, which have led to several public confrontations with other professional players such as Mike Matusow and Phil Hellmuth.

Despite his controversial behavior, he has achieved significant success in high-stakes poker tournaments, including televised events like Poker After Dark and High Stakes Poker.

His life story reflects a dramatic arc from fleeing political turmoil in Iran to becoming a recognized figure in the American poker scene, albeit with legal and personal challenges.

Legacy

Shawn Sheikhan's legacy in the poker world is complex. He is remembered both for his skill and for his contentious behavior at the table. His story is a cautionary tale of how personal decisions and legal issues can impact a professional career. Despite his achievements, his criminal convictions and recent incarceration have overshadowed much of his poker accomplishments.