Eric Afriat is a Canadian businessman and poker player with over $5.4 million in live poker tournament earnings. Afriat is best known for winning a trio of World Poker Tour (WPT) Main Events in the UNited States and Canada.
Eric Afriat Background
Afriat was born in Saint-Laurent, Quebec, Canada, but now resides in Miami Beach, Florida, United States. He spent 25 years working as a clothing importer and designer, but poker has always been a significant part of his life. Afriat discovered poker at an early age, first playing Five Card Draw and Seven Card Stud in high school. Afriat considers himself a recreational player who splits his time between developing real estate and building stacks at the poker table.
Eric Afriat Poker History
Afriat's first eight in-the-money finishes between December 2008 and January were all final table appearances, including a sixth-place finish in the $10,300 WPT Bellagio Cup in Las Vegas in July 2010 worth $118,950.
In July 2012, Afriat recorded his first tournament victory, getting his hands on $110,128 and the title of $5,180 Bellagio Cup VIII champion. That win would prove to be the first of many Afriat enjoyed.
Fast forward to April 2014, and Afriat came out on top in the $3,500 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Showdown. The victory came with $1,081,184 in prize money, which remains his largest single haul to this day.
Afriat became a two-time WPT champion in January 2018, outlasting 1,243 opponents on his way to clinching the $3,500 WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship title and its $651,928 top prize. WPT title number three came in February 2020 in the C$5,000 WPT Fallsview in Afriat's native Canada. The win awarded him C$508,021 ($383,539) in prize money.
Afriat also competes during the World Series of Poker (WSOP), although a bracelet has eluded him so far. A fifth-place finish in the $1,500 NLHE The Closer in 2018 is the closest Afriat has come to striking poker gold.
More recently, in February 2024, Afriat finished sixth in the record-breaking PokerStars European Poker Tour (EPT) Paris Main Event, banking €261,650 in the process. He also won a $15,100 PokerGO Tour event at the 2024 U.S. Poker Open for $288,000, a week after finishing second in a $5,100 buy-in event.
In May 2024, Afriat almost became a four-time WPT champion but had to settle for a sixth-place finish in the $3,800 WPT Choctaw Championship, which was worth $75,000.
Eric Afriat's Top 5 Live Poker Tournament Results
| Date | Event | Rank | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2014 | $3,500 WPT Seminole | 1st | $1,081,184 |
| Jan 2018 | $3,500 WPT Borgata | 1st | $651,928 |
| Apr 2019 | $3,500 WPT Seminole | 2nd | $465,120 |
| Feb 2020 | C$3,500 WPT Fallsview | 1st | C$508,021 ($383,539) |
| May 2022 | $3,000 The Lodge Championship | 2nd | $320,000 |
Wealth - What is Eric Afriat's Net Worth?
Although no publicly available data exists, it is safe to assume Eric Afriat is a wealthy man. He not only has more than $5.4 million in live poker tournament cashes, but he is also a highly successful businessman. Afriat spent 25 years as a clothing importer and designer and is now heavily involved in the lucrative real estate investment industry.
Eric Afriat Controversies
Eric Afriat has not been involved in anything you would consider controversial; he is an upstanding member of the poker community and a respected businessman. Afriat does wear his heart on his sleeve, and can be quite talkative at the poker table, which is not to everyone's taste.
Eric Afriat FAQs
Is Eric Afriat a professional poker player?
No. Although Afriat frequents high-stakes poker tournaments, he considers himself a businessman first and a recreational poker player second. It just so happens that Afriat is wealthy and can afford to play in tournaments usually reserved for professional grinders.
How many World Poker Tour titles has Eric Afriat won?
Eric Afriat has three World Poker Tour (WPT) titles. He won the $3,500 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Showdown in 2014, the $3,500 WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open in 2018, and the C$5,000 WPT Fallsview in 2020.
Has Eric Afriat won a World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet?
No, Eric Afriat has not yet won a WSOP bracelet. He came close in 2018 when he finished fifth in the $1,500 Closer for $154,660.
How did Eric Afriat make his money?
Eric Afriat spent 25 years working as a clothing importer and designer. These days, Afriat is heavily involved in real estate, with developments in South Florida the focus of his attention.
Is Eric Afriat good at poker?
With $5.4 million in earnings, three WPT Main Event titles, and his ability to mix it up with some of poker's biggest names, it is safe to assume Afriat is a good poker player.
