This and That: Celebs "Ante Up For Africa"

Thursday, May 17, 2007

Celebs "Ante Up For Africa"

ante up for africa banner

Event At WSOP To Raise Awareness For Darfur Survivors

The $5,000 buy-in tournament, which is open to anyone, is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. July 5 in the WSOP tournament area in the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino.

Among those who've expressed their intent to play, subject to availability, are Hollywood stars Cheadle, Ben Affleck, Brad Pitt, Jason Alexander, Jennifer Tilley, Hank Azaria, George Clooney, Matt Damon, George Lopez, Danny Masterson, Mekhi Phifer, Ray Romano, Adam Sandler and James Woods.

Basketball great Charles Barkley and poker notables Duke, Erik Seidel, Howard Lederer, Phil Hellmuth, Phil Gordon, Joe Hachem, Andy Bloch, Chris Ferguson, Barry Greenstein, Robert Williamson III, Phil Laak, Doyle Brunson, Phil Ivey, Ted Forrest, Mike Matusow and Clonie Gowan have also expressed plans to compete.

"While a donation is not required to enter, we are respectfully asking players who win prize money to donate half of their winnings to the ENOUGH Project and the International Rescue Committee – organizations whose goals include raising public awareness and providing aid to the survivors of Darfur," Duke said.

"Four years ago, the specter of genocide reared its ugly head in an area of the Sudan called Darfur," said Cheadle, whose role as a hotel manager in the true-life film "Hotel Rwanda" earned him an Academy Award nomination. The movie told the story of the government-sanctioned slaughter of more than a million innocents in Rwanda in 1994.

To keep the action moving, the tournament will feature a fast-paced blind structure that should see the event wrap within five hours. Seating is open to anyone, but is limited, so players are encouraged to pre-register at www.worldseriesofpoker.com/anteup.

Following the tournament there will be a private party at the Vodoo Lounge in the RIO starting at 10pm for those played in the charity event.

Link: worldseriesofpoker.com/anteup