NEW YORK, New York -- For the first time CBS Sports will be airing a star-studded poker tournament on its national network -- Ante Up for Africa (AUFA) Monte Carlo. AUFA Monte Carlo was held at the PokerStars.com European Poker Tour Grand Final in Monte Carlo and hosted a full roster of celebrities at the table. The show will air on CBS Sports on Saturday, 9/19 from 1:30-2:30pm EST and Saturday, 9/26 from 2:00 - 3:00pm EST, before college football.
"Each year at the World Series of Poker, I make a point to play in Ante Up for Africa," said Vanessa Rousso, member of Team PokerStars Pro. "It's amazing that PokerStars hosted the event in Monte Carlo to help a worthy cause and bring some fun to the table during one of their biggest events of the year."
Stars at the table included musical artists Christina Milian, Nelly, The Dream, and Joel Madden, along with actors Jason Lewis of Sex and the City and James Lee of Heroes. All celebrities played alongside Team PokerStars Pros Daniel Negreanu, Joe Hachem and Vanessa Rousso.
International stars that joined in the event included tennis legend Boris Becker, Nico Rosburg, Pepe Reina, Sebastian Chabal, Poli Rincon, Teddy Sheringham, Mike Tindall, and Philippe Saint Andre.
"I think anytime you're in hip hop, it's a competitive business just by nature," said hip-hop star Nelly. "If you are involved and successful (in hip hop) then you have drive and determination. That's what you want to use in poker. I'm happy to play for a great cause."
Ante Up for Africa, a three-year old charity founded by Don Cheadle, Annie Duke and Norman Epstein, was made part of the
PokerStars EPT Season 5. The event aims to raise money within the poker community for the current humanitarian mission in crisis-torn Darfur. Celebrities joined together at the felt to support the charity and battle in the $6,000 buy-in event.
All of the prize money from the PokerStars Ante Up For Africa Europe tournament was donated to help fund the work of charities that provide aid and assistance to the survivors of the situation in Darfur, Sudan, and support activism dedicated to resolving the crisis. PokerStars also awarded the winner of the tournament with a special prize package to the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure in the Bahamas in January 2010.
For more information on PokerStars European Poker Tour, please visit www.ept.com and tune in on Sept. 19 and 26th for all the action at the table with the top names in poker, music and entertainment.
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