The list of big name players confirmed for The Fourth Annual WSOP Ante Up For Africa Charity Poker Tournament continues to grow. In addition to the already announced Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Brad Garrett, Ray Romano and more, poker professionals Howard Lederer, Erik Seidel, Phil Gordon and Andy Bloch are also scheduled to come out to the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on July 3 to benefit Africans in need.
Brother to AUFA co-founder Annie Duke, Lederer (aka The Poker Professor) has participated in the WSOP AUFA tournament since its inception. He is best known in the poker world for his success of winning two World Series of Poker bracelets and two World Poker Tour titles. As of 2009, Lederer’s total live tournament winnings exceed $5,200,000.
Also a veteran WSOP Ante Up For Africa tournament player, Seidel took fourth place in last year’s competition with a total earnings of $51,601 – all of which he donated back to charity. With this ranking in the 2009 tournament and a total of eight World Series of Poker bracelets and one World Poker Tour title, Seidel will be a major contender in the 2010 charity event.
Gordon first entered the WSOP Main Event in 2001, finishing in 4th place with $400,000. In 2002 he made two more WSOP final tables, finishing 6th in the $2,000 Pot Limit hold ‘em event and 3rd in the $2,500 Omaha Hi/Lo Split event. At the 2005 WSOP, he took 3rd place again but this time in the $1,500 No Limit Texas hold ‘em Shootout event. And although Gordon has yet to win a WSOP bracelet, he is excited to give it his all at the AUFA charity event on July 3.
MIT and Harvard Law School grad Andy Bloch has his fair share of poker successes as well but is also known for his support of charities around the world. Bloch regularly donates 100% of his winnings on Full Tilt Poker to select causes and most recently contributed $100,000 of his winnings from the Pro-Am Equalizer to other charities also benefiting the crisis in Darfur.
