Trent Tucker Charity Poker Event

It was a truly star-studded event Thursday at the Hard Rock Hotel where celebrities from film, music, sports, and poker came together in an effort to raise money during Trent Tucker's Second Annual Hoopology Charity Poker Event. The $10,000 buy-in tournament, which attracted nearly 90 participants, created an estimated $900,000 prize pool benefiting the Trent Tucker Youth Program.

Tucker, a former NBA player, has been raising money for charitable causes since 1998. This was his second poker event. Together with Michael Jordan, and a host of NBA friends, Tucker has raised millions of dollars in an effort to better the lives of inner city middle school students. The Trent Tucker Youth program focuses on developing character and leadership skills, while providing career and educational opportunities, encouraging students to take positive risks and grasp the opportunity to realize their fullest potential.

"I was looking for another industry to synergize with and come together with for a common cause," said Tucker. "I'm always looking for a way to bring people together in an effort to help children."

The poker industry caught on to Tucker's vision, with celebrity poker agent Wendy Meadly rallying dozens of players, including Liz Lieu, Patrik Antonius, and the 2006 Card Player Player of the Year, Michael Mizrachi. Industry VIPs who also came in support were Bellagio's poker room director Doug Dalton, Card Player Cruises' Linda Johnson, and the World Poker Tour's own Mike Sexton.

Players and celebrities signed a poker table on the way in that was designed by Kent Reynolds from Diamond Tables of Las Vegas, to be auctioned at a later time in the name of the event.

The tournament was scheduled to begin at 8 p.m., but experienced a two-hour delay. No one seemed to mind as guests mingled, tapped the open bar, and nibbled on fresh seafood and exotic fruit.

Sometime around 10 p.m. players were ushered to their seats. Ironically, Michael Jordon was the first person to be eliminated. He finished first in last year's Hoopology Celebrity Poker Event.

During the tournament break, a silent auction took place. Sexton and Mizrachi were among those to buy. Some speculated that Mizrachi purchased a tour of a winery in Sonoma for $4,000 in order to get through the auction and quickly return to the action.

Tournament director David Koelling said, "This is a truly unique event. We expect the tournament and auction to raise around $1 million for charity."

It was after midnight when players reached the final table, including Lily Elviro, Liz Lieu, actor-comedian Katt Williams, Robert Williamson III, Hoyt Corkins, Sexton, Marcel Luske, Gus Hansen, and Linda Johnson. They played late into the night for the first-place prize of a one-year exclusive pass to the VIP Sterling Club and Spa. After a series of all-ins, Williamson came out victorious.

"It must have been my lucky socks," Williamson said.

The tournament was broadcast live from PokerNetcast.com.

At midnight, a complimentary concert and party at Hard Rock's nightclub Body English began. Hip-hop sensation The Roots performed to the packed crowd of invited guests.

The event was a testament to poker's mainstream popularity. Poker pros and celebrities alike enjoyed giving back through poker.

European Poker Tour and WPT winner Roland De Wolf may have had other motives. "I'm here for the Hard Rock chicks," he said, flashing his trademark devilish grin.

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