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The Iron Sheik

Shawn Sheikhan, razor-tongued bad boy

Though a few might heartily disagree, Sharhram Sheikhan, Shawn, to his friends, insists he's a good guy.

Notorious for his sharp wit and confrontational attitude at the table, Shawn is a self-admitted bad winner. But according to "Sheiky", that's a heck of a lot better that than being a bad loser.

Shawn started playing in cash games after moving to Las Vegas with his parents as a kid. One of his first tournaments was the 2001 World Series of Poker (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. In 2005, he placed 11th in the WSOP Main Event, but not before an epic verbal confrontation with Mike “The Mouth” Matusow.

Shawn has tremendous respect for old-school poker players - and it doesn't get any more old school than Doyle Brunson. During the 2006 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 - but more than the first-place prize, he wishes he had won his idol's Stetson.