A record-setting 433 celebrities, VIPs and poker superstars went toe to
toe last weekend in the 7th Annual World Poker Tour®
Invitational poker tournament at Commerce Casino to benefit charity
partner, The
Vine Group USA (TVG). In the end, professional player Freedy Deeb
bested actor Nicholas Gonzales at the final table to win the event, then
donated $34,000 from his first place prize to the charity, bringing the
total funds raised for the non-profit organization to more than $112,000.
“This event has become the most popular on the poker circuit, and this
year’s record field shows it,” said John Griffo, Director of Poker
Operations at Commerce Casino. “Everyone loved that they were able to
play while giving back. We look forward to making this an even bigger
and better element in years to come.”
Each year, Commerce Casino puts up a $200,000 prize pool for
participants to win. This year, WPT and Commerce Casino added a new
twist by allowing players to “re-buy,” or make a donation to The Vine
Group USA and receive additional chips to keep playing and increase
their chances of winning a piece of the prize pool. The new element was
a hit, with almost 90 percent of the field opting to participate. One
hundred percent of the re-buy proceeds will help provide scholarships,
textbooks, and technological equipment to academic institutions in
various English-speaking countries in Africa.
“This is huge,” said Mekhi Phifer, Chairman of The Vine Group
USA. “The funds raised will allow us to complete the Mekhi Phifer
Research Center we are currently building in Nigeria, which will service
more than 100,000 students as well as neighboring universities. Our goal
is to save millions lives by providing the tools for education and the
ability to build a future full of possibilities.”
“We couldn’t be more thrilled about the positive impact this will have,”
said Steve Lipscomb, WPT Founder, President and CEO. “To be able to give
back in times like these is a very good feeling, and what makes it even
more exciting is that it was the collaborative effort of hundreds of
people who learned about an important cause while having fun and playing
the game they love.”
Mekhi Phifer, Don Cheadle, Ray Romano, Brad Garrett, Joel Madden,
Benji Madden, Nicky Hilton, Jon Hamm, Michael Vartan, Jennifer Tilly,
Oliver Hudson, Danny Masterson, Camryn Manheim, supermodel Helena
Houdova, Jose Canseco, Ricki Lake, Marlon Wayans, Shannon Elizabeth, Tia
Carrere, Lou Diamond Philips, Vanessa Branch and Shanna Moekler were
among the many celebrities at the tables trying their hand against poker
pros like Mike Matusow, Mike Sexton, Phil Laak, Antonio Esfandiari,
Chip Jett, Andy Bloch, Gavin Smith, Jaime Gold and Erik Seidel.
The WPT Invitational will air in two-part one-hour episodes on Fox
Sports Net May 24 and May 31. Check your local listings or visit www.worldpokertour.com
for more information.
Press Note:
Event photos are available for download at www.jpistudios.com
& www.image.net.
To obtain event footage, visit www.wireimage.com
and click on the video tab. Video footage is also available through
Image.net by Getty Images.
To register:
1. Log on to http://www.image.net
and click on 'register'
2. Fill in the registration form (takes about 2 minutes)
3. Select "Events" for access to WPT Invitational video clips and press
release
4. When asked for a referral code, please enter 5700
For assistance, call Image.net's toll free 24-hour help line at
1-888-373-1500.
ABOUT WPTE
WPT Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ:WPTE) is one of the most recognized names
in internationally televised gaming and entertainment with brand
presence in land-based tournaments, television, online and mobile. WPTE
has led innovation in the sport of poker since 2002, when it ignited the
global poker boom with the creation of the World Poker Tour television
show. Based on a series of high stakes poker tournaments, WPT is now
broadcast globally and premiered its all-new seventh season on Fox
Sports Net’s national sports network in the United States in January
2009. WPTE also offers a unique online subscription and
sweepstakes-based poker club, ClubWPT.com, which operates in 38 states
across the U.S. Additionally, WPTE has a multimedia company based in
Beijing specializing in television production, and online and mobile
games supporting the WPT China National Traktor Poker Tour™. WPTE has a
10-year exclusive partnership with the China Leisure Sports
Administrative Center to market and build the sport of poker in China.
WPTE also participates in strategic brand license, partnership and
sponsorship opportunities. For more information, see www.worldpokertour.com.
WPTEG
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