Player Profile

Shawn Sheikhan - Shake for the Sheik

Shawn Sheikhan - Shake for the Sheik

Fact File

Age: 37

Born: Iran

Resides: Las Vegas, NV

Featured in: Episode 2

Key stats: Reached the final table at the 2005 WSOP Main Event and made the final four of the 2005 National Heads-Up Poker Championship.

Did you know?: "Sheiky" is best known for his verbal confrontation with Mike “The Mouth” Matusow at the 2005 WSOP.

Also in Episode: Johnny Chan, Mike Matusow, Gus Hansen, Nicholas Gonzalez, Yancey Arias

Fact File

If it had been the Old West, the fight that erupted between Shawn "Sheiky" Sheikhan and Mike Matusow during 2005’s WSOP Main Event might’ve ended a lot worse. Thankfully, only an expletive got fired across the table.

These two poker hot shots will duel again in the first round of the Poker Equalizer. Gus Hansen will also be at the same table, and he has a score to settle with Shawn, too. During 2006’s National Heads-Up Poker Championship, Shawn baited Hansen, telling him to just "throw away" his cards. Shawn went on to win their match.

Shawn insists he’s a good guy.

Shawn credits his parents for starting his interest in poker. They were avid gamblers and Shawn picked up their skills. After they moved to Las Vegas, Shawn started playing in cash games around town. One of his first tournaments was 2001’s WSOP Seven-Card Stud event. Shawn finished third. Two years later, he played in his second major tournament, the WSOP’s Seven-Card Stud Hi/Lo tourney. This time, he came in second. The year of his famous blow-up with Matusow, he finished the Main Event in 11th place.

Shawn has tremendous respect for old school poker players - and it doesn’t get any more old school than Doyle Brunson. During the National Heads-Up Poker Championship, Shawn made a bet with Brunson. Shawn’s side of the bet was that if he won the event, Brunson would have to hand over his iconic cowboy hat. Shawn finished third, and more than the first place prize, he wishes he had won his idol’s Stetson.

Shawn plans to grab WSOP gold someday, and he came close this year, finishing second in Seven-Card Stud. We know that he’ll be doing his best to win the gold in the Poker Equalizer as well. However, in order to grab the glory, he’ll have to butt heads with Matusow and Hansen again - so he’s definitely got his work cut out for him.

Whatever happens, we’re sure it’ll make for interesting television.