Bodog Beat

Poker players, like Annie Duke, and celebrities, like Ray Romano, have rubbed elbows for the past two years at the Ante Up for Africa charity poker tournament. (Bodog Beat Image)

Poker pro and Celebrity Apprentice bad beat-receiver Annie Duke and Oscar-nominated actor and brilliant Cockney accent-faker Don Cheadle have hosted the Ante Up For Africa charity poker tournament for the last two years and will bring it back to the Rio again this year with ESPN scheduled to televise the event.

The $5,000 buy-in tournament will take place on July 2 and will once again benefit charities associated with providing aid for the humanitarian crisis Darfur, Sudan. In a bid to get higher ratings, ESPN will be televising the event as part of their modified 2009 WSOP TV lineup that only includes footage of four events: the $10,000 WSOP Main Event, $40,000 Special 40th Anniversary event, the WSOP Champions Invitational and this Ante Up For Africa charity event.

Among those who we have to elbow our way through the regular paparazzi to take photos of are Matt Damon, Jason Alexander, Charles Barkley, Montel Williams, Herschel Walker, Hank Azaria, Brad Garrett, Reggie Miller, Marlon Wayans, Sarah Silverman and Casey Affleck, with more expected to be added as the day draws closer.  Poker pros expexted to be in attendance include Howard Lederer, Andy Bloch, Erik Seidel and Phil Hellmuth, plus whoever else Annie likes.

The charity event will air on August 11 at 8pm ET and we will be there covering the event like regular paparazzi, minus the upskirts….maybe. So, make sure to head over to our WSOP coverage area once the WSOP kicks off to keep up on all of the action.