Melika Razavi
| Melika Razavi | |
|---|---|
 Razavi at WPTDeepStacks in Johannesburg, 2019 | |
| Residence | South Africa |
| Born | 26 June 1989 Iran |
| World Series of Poker | |
| Bracelet(s) | 1 |
| Highest WSOP Main Event finish | 1st |
| World Poker Tour | |
| Final table(s) | 7th |
| European Poker Tour | |
| Final table(s) | 9th |
Melika Sadat Razavi Jamali (born 26 June 1989) is an Iranian-South African beauty queen, magician and professional poker player.
Biography
Melika Sadat Razavi Jamali was born in Iran in 1989 and grew up in South Africa.[1][2]
Razavi was crowned Miss Iran in 2016, Miss Global Fitness in Manilla, Philippines in 2016 and Miss Power Woman in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic in 2017,[3][4] despite how gambling, magic and beauty pageants are all banned in Iran.[3][5]
Razavi is a professional poker player.[6][7] Her first poker tournament was the 888poker LIVE Barcelona in 2017.[6] She was knocked out of the 2019 European Poker Tour (EPT) Monte Carlo Main Event by Chinese player Wei Huang.[8]
Razavi achieved 1st place and became pro champion in the $1,050 No Limit Beat the Pros Event (Bounty event #82) at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2020, winning a bracelet and the grand prize of $239,180.[4][9] At the next day of the tournament, she won a further $80,000 when she finished 13th in the $10,000 No Limit Hold’em Super MILLION$ (Event #83).[10]
In 2022, Razavi participated in the Triton Poker Series in Kyrenia, Northern Cyprus, taking $75,000 in winnings.[2] In 2023, she beat the Paris Saint-Germain FC player and poker enthusiast Neymar during a high-stakes cash games at Casino Barcelona.[2]
Razavi's Iranian passport disqualifies her from participating in America’s poker tournaments.[2]
References
- ^ Minty, Zareef (27 January 2022). "Get to know: Melika Razavi, prettiest, smartest female poker star of our time". NOW in SA. Archived from the original on 10 December 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
- ^ a b c d Harris, Joe (14 December 2022). "Melika Razavi Biography(Net Worth, News, & Images)". Online Casino Finders. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
- ^ a b Cross, Valerie (2 May 2019). "Iranian Beauty Queen Melika Razavi Making a Splash in EPT Monte Carlo Main Event". Pokernews.com. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
- ^ a b "WSOP Online 2020: Beauty Diva Melika Razavi From Iran Clinches Career-First Bracelet in Event #82 ($239,180)". PokerGuru. 7 September 2020. Archived from the original on 14 January 2025. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
- ^ Frate, Luciano Del (8 March 2023). ""Miss Iran" Melika Razavi: quando una donna iraniana si emancipa grazie al poker e la moda". Assopoker (in Italian). Retrieved 28 July 2025.
- ^ a b "Melika Razavi's profile on The Hendon Mob". The Hendon Mob Poker Database. Archived from the original on 25 February 2025. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
- ^ "10 High Stakes Texas Hold'em Hands: Melika Razavi Analysis". Coin Poker. 23 January 2025. Archived from the original on 8 February 2025. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
- ^ Epskamp, Yori (5 March 2019). "Six Remain in 2019 EPT Monte Carlo Main Event; Riess, Loeser Still in Contention". Pokernews.com. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
- ^ McMillan, Jeff; Epskamp, Yori (6 September 2020). "Melika Razavi Wins First WSOP Gold Bracelet in Event #82: $1,050 Beat the Pros ($239,180)". Pokernews.com. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
- ^ "Melika Razavi: A Rising Star in the World of Poker". World Poker Federation. 16 October 2023. Archived from the original on 29 October 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2025.