Overview of the Event
PokerStars, the world’s largest online poker site, is hosting its annual European Poker Tour (EPT) Grand Final week. This year’s festivities include a special addition: the Ante Up For Africa Europe Celebrity Charity Poker Tournament. This high-profile charity event aims to raise funds for humanitarian efforts in crisis-torn Darfur.
Event Details
- Date and Time: The Ante Up For Africa Charity Event will take place on April 27th at 6 PM.
- Location: The tournament will be held in Monte Carlo, Monaco.
- Follow-Up Event: The following day will feature the PokerStars EPT Season Five Grand Final Main Event.
Celebrity Participants
The charity tournament will feature several celebrities, including:
- Team PokerStars Pros: Daniel Negreanu, Joe Hachem, and Vanessa Rousso
- Tournament Format: A €4,000 buy-in no-limit Texas Hold’em tournament.
Purpose of the Charity Event
The funds raised from the PokerStars Ante Up For Africa Europe tournament will be donated to Ante Up For Africa. This organization supports charities working with survivors of the Darfur crisis and promotes activism aimed at resolving the conflict. The tournament winner will also receive a special prize package to PokerStars’ flagship EPT event in the Bahamas, scheduled for January 2010.
History of Ante Up For Africa
- Previous Seasons: The Ante Up For Africa charity event is in its third season. The previous tournaments were held during the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas over the last two summers.
- Notable Participants: Past events featured Hollywood stars like Adam Sandler, Ben Affleck, Shannon Elizabeth, Matt Damon, Montel Williams, and Don Cheadle, who founded the event. Professional poker players such as Barry Greenstein, Joe Hachem, and Daniel Negreanu also participated.
- Fundraising Success: Previous tournaments raised approximately $2 million for the cause.
Current Situation in Darfur
Despite the funds raised and improvements made, the situation in Darfur remains dire. The conflict along the Sudan-Chad border has led to severe conditions in refugee camps and has resulted in over 300,000 deaths due to ethnic cleansing by government forces.
The Impact of PokerStars’ Charity Event
PokerStars and the Ante Up For Africa charity event hope to bring renewed attention to the Darfur crisis and generate additional support and aid for the region.
