Ben Affleck

You've probably heard by now that Hollywood celebrity Ben Affleck (yes, the Ben Affleck) won the $10,000 buy-in no-limit hold'em tournament (and $356,400) at Commerce Casino's California State Poker Championship. It wasn't a scene out of a movie, a WPT Hollywood Home Game, or a fluke. It was the real deal. Congratulations, "Boston Ben"!

I met Ben last year at the Legends of Poker tournament at The Bicycle Casino, an event on the World Poker Tour. Since then, I've had the opportunity to play a fair amount of poker with him. (I play in a private game with him on a weekly basis.) His game has improved tremendously in the past year. He is extremely bright, soaks up information like a sponge, and has great poker instincts. Believe me, Affleck can play poker.

To those of us who know how well Ben plays poker, it wasn't a matter of if he was going to do well in a major no-limit hold'em tournament, it was a matter of when. I could see it coming a few months ago when, after one of our weekly games (which always end before midnight), Ben wanted to play some more. He said, "Let's play a tournament – a $5,000 freezeout."

The funny part about this was that Ben had a private jet waiting to take him back East for an appointment the next morning. When six of us said we would stay and play, Ben called the pilot and put the jet on hold. (That's the power of megabucks, folks.) And guess who won the freezeout? You got it, "Boston Ben" (also known as Big Slick) Affleck.

Ben is passionate about poker. He loves to play. He is enthralled by the challenge of the game and enjoys playing against the best. Capturing this title meant a lot to him, but not because of the money. He wants to be known as a poker player, not as a celebrity who plays poker. This win should cement that.

The night after Ben captured his title at Commerce Casino was the night of our weekly game. It was a million-to-one shot that Ben would show up that night, but he did. It was one of the most fun nights of poker I've ever had. Ben (the first one there) brought his trophy to the game and set it in the middle of the table for all to see. He said, "Boys, you're looking at the California State Poker Champion." He was as proud as a peacock, and in truth, we were, too.

Ben's winning that tournament didn't cut him any slack in our game, though. It only brought him more good-natured needling. Every time he lost a pot, the winner said something like, "I'll be taking that trophy home tonight," or, "You'd better stick to playing with those tournament players," or, "You may be the California State Champion, but you're just a chumpion here." It was one of those nights you put in a frame and hang on the wall.

The only sad thing about Ben's win is that it didn't happen in a televised event. If it had, everyone could have seen how well he plays and the poker world would have benefited even more. Can you imagine the ratings for a TV poker tournament that Ben Affleck wins (and the new players it might bring into the game)?

Many Hollywood celebrities have gotten serious about their poker. You will be amazed at the good poker you're going to see on the upcoming WPT Hollywood Home Games. And don't be surprised if you see more celebrities making it to the final table of WPT events. (For starters, keep an eye on James Woods and Tobey Maguire.)

Ben, you are officially a poker player now, not a celebrity who plays poker.

Take care.

Mike Sexton is the host for PartyPoker.com and a commentator on the World Poker Tour (which can be seen every Wednesday on the Travel Channel).