WSOP Opens with Charity Tourney

Poker professionals and celebrities competed in the Ante up for Africa charity event Friday, which was held as part of the first day of the World Series of Poker Main Event in Las Vegas.

Alex Bolotin won the $177,730 first prize and donated half of it to charity, as did most of the players who participated in the tourney.

Some 138 players participated in total in the event, which was co-hosted by Don Cheadle and Annie Duke and which raised funds for humanitarian organizations ENOUGH and the International Rescue Committee, and more specifically for their activities in the war-torn Sudanese province of Darfur.

Dozens of celebrities played, including Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Nelly, Jason Alexandar, Brad Garrett, Seinfeld star Jason Alexander, Brad Garrett, Sarah Silverman and Dean Cain. Mike Tyson, Charles Barkley, former Australian cricket legend Shane Warne and several others were there to represent the world of sport.

The rest of the field was made up of poker professionals, many of whom are participating in the Main Event.