Star-Studded Celebrity Poker Tourney to Raise Funds for Ante up for Africa

To raise public awareness and funds to support the victims of the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, Sudan, the 2nd annual Ante Up For Africa tournament will be held at the 2008 World Series of Poker on July 2nd, with more than a dozen celebrities and athletes joining poker's most notable players.

Created by Oscar nominee Don Cheadle and poker pro Annie Duke, the Ante Up for Africa tournament will begin at 2 p.m. July 2nd at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, home of the World Series of Poker (WSOP).

Last year's Ante Up For Africa event featured more Hollywood celebrities and poker professionals than any other charity tournament ever and raised more than $700,000.

"After the success of last year's tournament, we are looking forward to another exciting year while raising awareness for an ongoing crisis," said poker pro Annie Duke. "It is exciting to bring the world of poker and entertainment together and we are once again asking players who win prize money to donate half of their winnings to our charities."

Among those confirmed to participate, subject to availability, are Hollywood stars Cheadle, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Adam Sandler, Ray Romano, Charles Barkley, Jason Kidd, Kevin Pollack, Cheryl Hines, George Lopez, Joe Trohman (Fall Out Boy) with many more expressing their interest to play. Also playing, subject to availability, will be poker professionals Doyle Brunson, Phil Ivey, Daniel Negreanu, Howard Lederer, Chris Ferguson, Andy Bloch, Phil Hellmuth, Phil Laak, Erik Seidel, Phil Gordon, Rafe Furst, Barry Greenstein and others.

The tournament will feature a fast-paced structure designed to complete the competition within five hours. Seating for the tournament is limited and anyone who wants to participate is encouraged to pre-register at www.worldseriesofpoker.com/pdfs/prereg2008/Ante-Up-for-Africa.pdf

"The poker community has a unique opportunity to help ease the suffering in Darfur," said Jeffrey Pollack, commissioner of the World Series of Poker. "The stars are coming out for this special event once again and we encourage everyone to register early before we sell out."

"I was elated that we raised over $700,000 last year," said Cheadle, "I am so grateful for everyone's participation and generosity in helping us continue to bring the plight of the refugees of Darfur to the forefront of people's minds. I hope we can raise even more this year."

Cheadle, an accomplished poker player, and Duke, who has more than $4 million in tournament winnings, are committed to raising both public awareness about the tragedy in Darfur and funds to aid its victims. As the world's richest sporting event, the WSOP is covered by more than 600 journalists from around the globe each year and attracts players from more than 85 countries.

Proceeds from this year's tournament will go to two charities: ENOUGH, www.enoughproject.org, a joint initiative of the International Crisis Group and the Center for American Progress, which aims to end crimes against humanity in Darfur, northern Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and to prevent future mass atrocities wherever they occur and Not On Our Watch, www.notonourwatchproject.org, founded by actors George Clooney, Don Cheadle, Matt Damon, and Brad Pitt, which has endeavored to focus global attention and resources towards putting an end to mass atrocities around the world. The group has adopted the crisis in Darfur, Africa, as its inaugural campaign. Drawing on the powerful voices of artists, activists and cultural leaders, NOOW generates lifesaving humanitarian assistance and protection for the vulnerable, marginalized and displaced.

More Poker News Articles

Keikoan Captures Harvey's Lake Tahoe WSOPC Championship
12am Thu Nov 19th, 2009

This week marked the finale of the biggest annual tournament series in Northern Nevada, the WSOP Circuit championship at Harvey's Lake Tahoe. While the Main Event saw only a modest turnout, it did boast of a tough final table, and a WSOP bracelet owner as the eventual champion.

WSOP Main Event Champ Joe Cada to Appear on Letterman
12am Wed Nov 18th, 2009

The poker world will receive some late night attention tonight as "The Kid" Joe Cada, the youngest champion in the four decade history of the World Series of Poker Main Event, takes a seat next to embattled talk show host David Letterman.

First Korean Champ of Asia Pacific Poker Tour Crowned in Cebu
12am Tue Nov 17th, 2009

Another stop on the Asia Pacific Poker Tour is in the books, this time it's the APPT Cebu in the Philippines, and for the very first time a Korean player has come out on top.

Pollack Done as Commish of World Series of Poker
12am Sat Nov 14th, 2009

Just three days after crowning Joe Cada as the 2009 Main Event champion, officially closing the special 40th anniversary run of the World Series of Poker, Jeffrey Pollack has resigned his post as Commissioner of the WSOP.

Durrrr Signs as Team Full Tilt's Youngest Member
12am Wed Nov 11th, 2009

Tom "durrrr" Dwan is the newest member of Team Full Tilt, the online site's highest level of affiliation. At 23, Dwan is the youngest of the now 14-person team. The high stakes cash phenomenon was nominated for induction this year into the Poker Hall of Fame until the Hall of Fame Governing Council decided he was too young to meet the "has stood the test of time" qualification.

Joe Cada Becomes Youngest World Series of Poker Main Event Champ
12am Tue Nov 10th, 2009

History was made early Tuesday morning in Las Vegas as 21-year-old Joe Cada outlasted Darvin Moon in heads-up play to claim the 2009 World Series of Poker Main Event bracelet and more than $8.5 million.

Moon and Cada Heads-Up, Ivey 7th at WSOP Main Event Final Table
12am Sun Nov 8th, 2009

After a marathon session at the most esteemed table in the poker world, a 21-year-old and a logger are set to go one-on-one for the World Series of Poker Main Event bracelet.

PokerStars Launches New UK and Ireland Poker Tour
12am Wed Nov 4th, 2009

PokerStars.com has announced the start of a new poker tour with stops throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland. The UK and Ireland Poker Tour (UKIPT) will kick off in Galway, Ireland in mid-December, and the first event in the UK will be held in Manchester in February.

Peerless Media Agrees to Purchase World Poker Tour Enterprises
12am Mon Nov 2nd, 2009

According to a Monday press release, WPT Enterprises Inc., mothership of the World Poker Tour, is now the rightful property of Peerless Media, Ltd., subsidiary of online giant PartyGaming.

Tiffany Michelle and Maria Ho Hit the Amazing Race Rail
12am Mon Nov 2nd, 2009

After surviving six legs of the Amazing Race by the skin of their teeth, poker pros Tiffany Michelle and Maria Ho were finally eliminated in the CBS reality show's most recently aired episode. Michelle and Ho, the last women standing in the 2008 and 2007 World Series of Poker Main Events, gave reality television fans another chance to watch poker personalities compete away from the felt. Annie Duke garnered quite a following earlier in the year on another reality show competition, NBC's Celebrity Apprentice.