Vahedi was named No Limit Texas hold 'em player of the year in 2001 and was runner-up to Men Nguyen for Card Player Magazine's 2003 Player of the Year. In 2003 he made the final table of the Main Event of the World Series of Poker and finished sixth, earning $250,000. Earlier in the series, he won his first WSOP bracelet in the $1,500 No Limit Hold'em event for $270,000.