Amir Vahedi is dead. He is known as the poker pro with oversized cigars and matching personality and his family and friends will surely miss him. The cause of death was complications due to diabetes.

This new first broke out on Twitter when a fellow poker pro, Mark Seif, posted the following on his blog:

“I’ve just been told by close friends of Amir Vahedi, that Vahedi passed away in Las Vegas on January 8, 2010, due to complications involving blood sugar levels. Waiting for for more details. Devastating news. Very very sad.”

Vahedi ranked 6th in the 2003 World Series of Poker Main Event. He won one WSOP bracelet (2003 – $1,500 NLHE) and is believed to have earned nearly $2.5 million over the course of his career.

In 2001, Vahedi was hailed Texas Hold’em Player of the Year. He was actually in the Iranian army where he served during the Iran-Iraq conflict. He then came to Los Angeles and is said to be the one who taught actor Ben Affleck how to play poker.

(via Bluff Magazine)