"ANTE UP FOR AFRICA" DRIVE TO STAR BIG NAME POKER PLAYERS

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Celebrities to play for Dafur needy

The Poker Stars and Ocean 13 cast initiative to help starving Somalian refugees has been followed by news of a second major Hollywood + Poker drive that has the backing of the World Series of Poker.  It's called "Ante Up For Africa" and has already attracted top poker pros and Hollywood stars.

Actor Don Cheadle and poker pro Annie Duke will host the event to raise awareness of the humanitarian crisis in Dafur, and the big names who have already stepped forward should ensure wide publicity.

The initiative takes the form of a tournament scheduled for July 5 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, and likely Hollywood participants include Brad Pitt, Ben Affleck, George Clooney, Matt Damon, Ray Romano, Adam Sandler Jason Alexander, Jennifer Tilly, Hank Azaria, George Lopez, Danny Masterson, Mekhi Phifer and James Woods.

On the poker pro front Erik Seidel, Howard Lederer, Phil Hellmuth, Phil Gordon, Joe Hachem, Andy Bloch, Chris "Jesus" Ferguson, Doyle Brunson, Barry Greenstein, Robert Williamson III, Phil Laak, Ted Forrest, Mike Matusow, Clonie Gowan and Phil Ivey have given their support.

"We're honored 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, commissioner of the World Series of Poker.

The tournament will feature a blind structure designed to provide maximum thrills and fast poker, the plan being to concentrate the action into a five hour timeframe. Seats are limited, but open to all for a buy-in of $5 000, which includes entre to a private thrash at the Rio's Voodoo Lounge on the night of July 5.

Two great charity organisations will be the beneficiaries of the cash raised - the International Rescue Committee and the ENOUGH Project. To boost contributions, Duke and Cheadle have suggested that winners might like to donate half of their prizes to the funds.

Interested parties can pre-register online at www.worldseriesofpoker.com/anteup.