Celebrities At The 3rd Annual Ante Up For Africa Poker Tournament

A crowd puller by the media in the red carpet as the Rio Convention Center became the center of the universe for both the celebrity world and the poker world last thursday, July 2, 2009.




The celebrities at the 3rd Annual Ante Up For Africa Poker Tournament at the Rio Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas. Some celebrities spotted in the event were:









Actor Ben Affleck arrives at the 3rd Ante Up for Africa celebrity poker tournament at the Rio Hotel and Casino last Thursday, July 2,2009.






Actor Matt Damon arrives at the 3rd Ante Up for Africa celebrity poker tournament at the Rio Hotel and Casino last Thursday, July 2,2009.






Actress Jennifer Tilly arrives at the 3rd Ante Up for Africa celebrity poker tournament at the Rio Hotel and Casino last Thursday, July 2,2009.






Actress and comedian Sarah Silverman arrives at the 3rd Ante Up for Africa celebrity poker tournament at the Rio Hotel and Casino last Thursday, July 2,2009.






Actors Dean Cain (L) and Jason Alexander arrive at the 3rd Ante Up for Africa celebrity poker tournament at the Rio Hotel and Casino last Thursday, July 2,2009.





Actor and a former WBF boxing champion Mike Tyson arrives at the 3rd Ante Up for Africa celebrity poker tournament at the Rio Hotel and Casino last Thursday, July 2,2009.






Actor and event host Don Cheadle arrives at the 3rd Ante Up for Africa celebrity poker tournament at the Rio Hotel and Casino last Thursday, July 2,2009.






Poker Icon and the Duchess of poker Annie Duke arrives at the 3rd Ante Up for Africa celebrity poker tournament at the Rio Hotel and Casino last Thursday, July 2,2009.






NBA analyst and former NBA player Charles Barkley (Left) and Actor and Comedian Brad Garrett (Right) arrive at the 3rd Ante Up for Africa celebrity poker tournament at the Rio Hotel & Casino last Thursday, July 2,2009.






Television personality Montel Williams (R) and his wife Tara Williams arrive at 3rd Ante Up for Africa celebrity poker tournament at the Rio Hotel & Casino last Thursday, July 2,2009.





Comedian and Actor Doug Benson arrives at the 3rd Ante Up for Africa celebrity poker tournament at the Rio Hotel & Casino last Thursday, July 2,2009.






Rapper and Actor Nelly arrives at the 3rd Ante Up for Africa celebrity poker tournament at the Rio Hotel & Casino last Thursday, July 2,2009.






11 time World Series Of Poker Tournament Phil Hellmuth arrives at the 3rd Ante Up for Africa celebrity poker tournament at the Rio Hotel & Casino last Thursday, July 2,2009.


"When we first conceived of the charity, we were thinking we'd just do a little event and raise like 20 or 30 thousand dollars," said Duke.


But Jeffrey Pollack, the Commissioner of World Series Of Poker Tournament had a vision for this event that we didn't have and he made us part of the World Series Of Poker Tournament.


"It's an amazing platform where not only are poker players involved here, at one place at one time, but media is also focused on poker this time of year right before the Main Event. It's so exciting to see everyone come out."







At the end of the day, Alex Bolotin won the $176,449 first place prize and promptly donated half of it back to charity.

Proceeds from the tournament will directly benefit Refugees International’s efforts in Darfur and Sudan. The 3rd Annual Ante Up for Africa Poker tournament has raised more than $2 million for the cause since its conception.



“It is important to me to show people that it is possible to make a difference for the people of Darfur, I am thrilled that this event has become such a success and that it will generate support for efforts by Refugees International, the Enough Project and others to end the crisis in Darfur.” said Duke.


"I am very pleased that we have raised almost 2 million to date and appreciative of everyone who has participated and donated to help us on our mission of bringing the plight of the refugees of Darfur to the forefront of people's minds," said Cheadle.


The event will also be televised in part by ESPN on August 11 from 8 – 10 pm ET.





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Ben Affleck Smashed The Poker Limelight

Before making it big in Hollywood, Ben Affleck appeared in small feature films like Kevin Smith's "Mallrats" in 1995 and "Chasing Amy" in 1997. After a few years, Ben and his best friend Matt Damon, won an Academy Award for the screenplay of Good Will Hunting which Ben is the co-writer.

It was not only Ben’s movies that were bombing, his success at the poker table was also about to explode. Unlike most other celebrity poker players, Ben Affleck has had professional poker teachers train him to be a skilled poker player.





Tutored by Annie Duke, Ben has been smashing the poker table than he has at the theaters, he latterly won 1st place and $356,400 in the $10,000 buy-in tournament at the Commerce Casino.

Ben won by riding some well timed pairs to victory. Before finishing the match heads-up against Stan Goldstein, he had to get through a couple other obstacles: namely Chuck Pacheco.

Ben also beat fellow star Tobey Maguire and nearly 90 other poker players to win nearly $300,000. The actor went home with the money after winning the Commerce Casino's tournament in California. It qualifies him for a seat at the World Poker Tour Championship.

Ben and Matt Damon teamed up for a good cause, the 2nd Annual Ante Up For Africa Texas Hold'em Poker Tournament at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas last July 2008 and they took time out of their lives to help the less fortunate.




Last August 2008, Ben had a democratic convention plan for poker where in he renowned more than one political party. Among his official duties are performing at a round table event for SeaChange Ideas Forum, packing food for the needy and playing poker to benefit paralyzed veterans.

Together with pros Andy Bloch and Barry Greenstein, he sits down and play poker at the Ballpark, with the proceeds going toward the Paralyzed Veterans of America.

Some Hollywood celebrities such as Paul Rudd, Jessica Alba, Oprah Winfrey, Anne Hathaway, Sarah Silverman,Montel Williams and Seth Meyers are also expected to ante-up at the VIP tournament sponsored by the Poker Players Alliance. The tournament held at the Club Level section of Coors Field, with a new Washington lobbying outfit that works to protect the right to play poker.

Where Ben Affleck won and outlasted over 100 other players in a 6 hour tournament that ended around 4 a.m. In the morning. With the results inconsequential Ben is holding an Ace-10 and chopped the pot, the organizers would say the key to the event was the $100,000 that was raised for the Paralyzed Veterans of America. He also beat the 2 professional poker players, including Andy Bloch, who won more than $1,000,000 million with a second-place finish in the 2005 World Series of Poker.

Ben also appeared at the first poker reality TV show, Celebrity Poker Showdown, but unfortunately, he did not take home the jackpot.





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Meet and Beat Affleck and Damon: Play Poker Now!

How would you like the chance to meet Matt Damon and Ben Affleck? Or better yet a chance to defeat Ben Affleck and Matt Damon in poker? This is not a dream, you can actually meet them and beat them at the same time with Pacific Poker and 888 Ladies are offering an opportunity to play against Hollywood celebrities and Oscar winners Ben Affleck and Matt Damon at a special Cannes Poker Charity Event!



The Cannes Charity Poker adventure is a privately trace by reflection business and the final 60 places have a mind esteem been severely vetted by the organizers in some attempt to bring into proximity only the very top ‘A’ list celebrities in addition to the richest donors from encompassing the World.

A special freeroll will take place on May 9th where the winner will receive a package to the Cannes Film Festival. There are two ways to qualify for this freeroll. The freeroll tournament takes place at Villa Oxygene in Cannes on May the 19th and amongst the prizes on offer is a $250,000 Villa in Durban, South Africa.

The players who earn 1,200 points between March 1st and May 6th will be automatically entered. Anyone who does not accumulate that many points have another chance. On May 7th, a special $150+$10 tournament will take place where the top 3 finishers advance to the Cannes freeroll.




Also, to seat in the 60 player celebrity poker tournament, 6 other A list celebrities at the event which will take place on 19th May. The Cannes package winner will receive 3 nights in a five-star hotel with costless airfare. The lucky winner of the Cannes Charity Poker event will walk away with a $250,000 beach house in Durban, South Africa.

All you have to do is sign up to 888 Poker and accumulate 1,2000 FFPs between April 1 and May 6 to play in the freeroll on May 9. For those who may have not receive joined 888.com state a little later by way of a buy-in forward May 7th into the promotion, there choose an opportunity to procreate onto that final part.

Once you either opened an account yourself or registered a poker playing friend, you will first of all find a nice sum of 3,000 Ladies Points in your account as a reward. If you are determined to get to Cannes any time soon, you or your friend better participate in the 888 Celebrity Challenge tournament.

The Cannes Charity Poker Event Final hold 7 tables with Matt Damon or Ben Affleck. The lucky 888.com winners not only get a chance of tempting $250,000, and has the opportunity to mingle in contrast with a certain number of of the biggest celebrities onward the planet and you will also be in Cannes for their world famous film festival, which is a great prize in itself even if you don't go deep in the Celebrity Challenge.

This event is sponsored by 888.com and will accord with the Cannes Film Festival and being held to raise money for Ben Affleck's and Matt Damon's charities - "Not On Our Watch" in Darfur region, and "One Voice For Freedom" the children's anti slavery charity.





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