Cricket star and poker pro host Melbourne tournament
Friday 24th October 2008
Shane Warne and Joe Hachem are set to host a charity poker event at Australia's Crown Casino next week.
The legendary spin bowler and 2005 World Series of Poker main event winner will welcome a number of other card-playing celebrities to the Melbourne gaming venue on Monday October 27th.
For those who can afford the A$1,000 (£393) buy-in, a first prize of A$25,000 is at stake in the casino's 50-table poker room.
All proceeds from the event will go to the Shane Warne Foundation, which distributes money to charities working with disadvantaged children in Australia.
Celebrity players confirmed for the event include footballer Kevin Muscat, former Westlife singer Brian McFadden and ex-boxer Jeff Fenech, as well as a number of famous faces from Australian television.
After retiring from first-class cricket in March 2006, Warne embarked on a second career as a poker player.
He recently told the Sun: "Nothing will replace the adrenalin of seeing that off-stump cart wheeling out of the ground, but poker has given me something close.
"I'm really enjoying it and the banter on the tables is great fun."
Shane Warne and Joe Hachem are set to host a charity poker event at Australia's Crown Casino next week.