Poker Pro Phil Gordon wins with actress Shannon Elizabeth taking second place

LAS VEGAS (July 4, 2010) – The fourth annual Ante up for Africa charity poker tournament took place yesterday at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino as part of the 41^st Annual World Series of Poker^®, raising more than $275,000 to aid the victims of the humanitarian crises in Africa. First place went to professional poker player Phil Gordon, who won a total of $129,086 and donated 100 percent back to the charity.

“I always wanted to win an event at the World Series of Poker,”Gordon said after his win. “Of course, it had to be a non-gold bracelet event.” He has made it to multiple final tables in the WSOP^®, but has yet to win a bracelet. Runner-up, actress Shannon Elizabeth, felt similarly after the tournament ended, “I wish the rest of my WSOP had gone the way this tournament went.”

Ante up for Africa attracted 83 players this year including Don Cheadle, Annie Duke, Matt Damon, Brad Garrett, Shannon Elizabeth, Montel Williams, David Alan Grier, Evander Holyfield, Jerome Bettis and poker pros Chris Ferguson, Andy Bloch, Howard Lederer, Phil Gordon, Phil Ivey, John Hennigan, Joe Hachem, Michael Mizrachi, Rafe Furst and Erik Seidel. The No-Limit Hold’em poker tournament required an entry fee of $5,000 and all of the in-the-money finishers donated a portion of their winnings to the charity.

A WMV Link is available for PC viewers at the link below: http://mrcameraftp.com/home/harrahs/AUFA/. File name: AUFA_2010_VNR.wmv.

ABOUT THE WSOP

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is the largest, richest and most prestigious gaming event in the world, having awarded more than a billion dollars in prize money and the prestigious gold bracelet, globally recognized as the sport’s top prize. Featuring a comprehensive slate of tournaments in every major poker variation, the WSOP is poker’s longest running tournament in the world, dating back to 1970. For more information on the WSOP, please visit www.wsop.com.

ABOUT ANTE UP FOR AFRICA

Ante up for Africa is a non-profit organization founded in 2006 by Don Cheadle, Annie Duke and Norman Epstein. The organization is dedicated to raising money and awareness for Africans in need. Ante up for Africa has raised more than $3 million and has donated to organizations such as Refugees International, Darfur Peace & Development Organization, Water.org, Eastern Congo Initiative and Enough Project. For more information, please visit www.AnteUpForAfrica.org.

PHOTO CREDIT: Erik Kabik/RETNA

From left to right: Shannon Elizabeth, Norman Epstein, Don Cheadle, Annie Duke, Phil Gordon