Hollywood Celebs and Poker Pros to Ante Up for Africa
A whole host of big names have expressed support for a Dafur crisis fundraiser
Friday 18th May 2007
More than a dozen Hollywood celebrities and sports legends are expected to join poker’s greatest players to raise public awareness about the humanitarian crisis in Darfur in a special ‘Ante Up For Africa’ tournament at the 2007 World Series of Poker (WSOP).
The brainchild of Academy Award nominee Don Cheadle and poker professional Annie Duke, the Ante Up For Africa tournament is scheduled to begin at 16:00 on 5 July 2007 in the WSOP tournament area in the Rio.
“We’re honoured to host this event and hope that entrants – particularly those fortunate enough to win money – will make donations to help ease the human suffering that defines the crisis in Darfur,” said Jeffrey Pollack, WSOP commissioner.
Among those who’ve expressed their intent to play, subject to availability, are Hollywood stars Cheadle, Ben Affleck, Brad Pitt, Jennifer Tilley, George Clooney, Matt Damon, Adam Sandler and more.
Basketball great Charles Barkley and poker notables Duke, Howard Lederer, Phil Hellmuth, Phil Gordon, Joe Hachem, Andy Bloch, Chris Ferguson, Barry Greenstein, Phil Laak, Doyle Brunson, Phil Ivey, Mike Matusow, Clonie Gowan and many more 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 organisations whose goals include raising public awareness and providing aid to the survivors of Darfur,” Duke said.
More than a dozen Hollywood celebrities and sports legends are expected to join poker’s greatest players to raise public awareness about the humanitarian crisis in Darfur in a special ‘Ante Up For Africa’ tournament at the 2007 World Series of Poker (WSOP).