03 Jul 10
Ante Up For Africa Charity Tournament Third Edition Over
The Ante Up For Africa Charity Tournament has, as expected, attracted champs of all kinds to aid its noble cause. With a total of 138 participants, the tournament was a great success.
While this year's WSOP has already hosted 56 events and the last one, the $10,000 NLHE Main Event, has just started, it seems hard to believe that the pros would find time to do anything but participate in these events.
However, the Ante Up For Africa Charity Tournament is one of the biggest charity events of the year and it has become just as important as any other event on poker pros' schedule - not because of its prize pool but because of its good cause. The purpose of this charity event is to bring more attention to the crisis in Darfur and help fund the work of charities that provide aid and assistance to the survivors in that region.
Actor Don Cheadle and Annie Duke (pictured left) are the official hosts of this tournament. Duke commented:
"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, but Jeffrey Pollack had a vision for this event that we didn't have and he made us part of the World Series of Poker."
As expected, many top pros and celebrities were seen at the tables, including Jennifer Harman, Phil Hellmuth, John Juanda, Barry Greenstein, Greg Mueller, Peter Eastgate and Erik Seidel. Likes of Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Mike Tyson were also present in the room.
"I don't really think I'm going to do well but it's for a good cause. I'ts nice to be able to participate, play poker and raise awareness," said Tyson.
Due to the Nevada Gaming Laws prohibiting money being given directly from the prize pool to the charity, the players were encouraged to donate at least 50 percent of their winnings to charity. last year's champion John Hennigan donated his entire first place prize to the Ante Up For Africa cause.
The final table of this year's tournament was a tough one with likes of Mike Sowers, Erik Seidel, Chris Ferguson, Phil Gordon and Jennifer Harman still in the race for the first place. John Hennigan was also at the final table, but he couldn't repeat his last year's success, as the first place went to Alex Bolotin (pictured right) .
Bolotin had to defeat Adam Richardson in the heads-up play to be crowned the champion of the Ante Up For Africa Tournament, thus earning himself $177,730. He confirmed that he will donate 50 percent of his winnings to the cause.
However, the Ante Up For Africa Charity Tournament is one of the biggest charity events of the year and it has become just as important as any other event on poker pros' schedule - not because of its prize pool but because of its good cause. The purpose of this charity event is to bring more attention to the crisis in Darfur and help fund the work of charities that provide aid and assistance to the survivors in that region.
Actor Don Cheadle and Annie Duke (pictured left) are the official hosts of this tournament. Duke commented:
"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, but Jeffrey Pollack had a vision for this event that we didn't have and he made us part of the World Series of Poker."
champs of all kinds aid the same cause
A total of 137 players came to aid such a noble cause and paid the $5,000 entry fee to take part in the tournament, thus generating a prize pool of $670,680 with the top 18 spots paid out and the first place finisher receiving $177,730. |
| Source: IMPDI for 2009 WSOP |
"I don't really think I'm going to do well but it's for a good cause. I'ts nice to be able to participate, play poker and raise awareness," said Tyson.
Due to the Nevada Gaming Laws prohibiting money being given directly from the prize pool to the charity, the players were encouraged to donate at least 50 percent of their winnings to charity. last year's champion John Hennigan donated his entire first place prize to the Ante Up For Africa cause.
The final table of this year's tournament was a tough one with likes of Mike Sowers, Erik Seidel, Chris Ferguson, Phil Gordon and Jennifer Harman still in the race for the first place. John Hennigan was also at the final table, but he couldn't repeat his last year's success, as the first place went to Alex Bolotin (pictured right) .
Bolotin had to defeat Adam Richardson in the heads-up play to be crowned the champion of the Ante Up For Africa Tournament, thus earning himself $177,730. He confirmed that he will donate 50 percent of his winnings to the cause.
Links
