World Poker Tour Announces The King's Celebrity Poker Challenge

The World Poker Tour announced on Tuesday, May 26 that they are partnering with Budweiser to put on a brand new celebrity poker special event called The King’s Celebrity Poker Challenge on ClubWPT. The event will feature big-named celebrities and athletes competing on ClubWPT, the WPT’s sweepstakes-based online poker platform. The first episode will feature World Central Kitchen founder Chef José Andrés, six-time NBA all-star and two-time NBA champion Pau Gasol, Hollywood stars Jon Hamm, Jason Alexander, and Kevin Pollak, as well as surfing legend Kelly Slater, all of whom will be playing remotely. The first episode will premiere as a two-hour special on Twitch at 5:00 p.m. PT on Thursday, May 28

Budweiser is set to donate $15,000 on behalf of each of the six players to World Central Kitchen, with an additional $35,000 donated in the name of the eventual winner of the event. That means that $125,000 will be donated to World Central Kitchen, an organization that delivers meals to families, seniors, frontline healthcare workers and more.

“This incredible partnership with Budweiser is a trailblazing step forward in charity poker initiatives and televised poker,” said Adam Pliska, CEO of the World Poker Tour. “WPT is always looking to be innovative, and this partnership with Budweiser leverages our 18 seasons of world-class production and our ClubWPT online platform, to bring real poker into people’s homes during this unprecedented era without live events. We graciously thank our partners at Budweiser for their contribution of $125,000 to help those in need during this time.”

“Budweiser has had a long legacy of an association with competition. We, like everyone else, are missing the excitement of watching a live game,” said Monica Rustgi, Vice President of Marketing for Budweiser. “Bud wanted to give people chance to feel a little of that thrill of competition while staying safe at home, so with the World Poker Tour, we’ve assembled a cast of characters for a charity game for some light-hearted fun and to make a positive impact by spotlighting the great work of World Central Kitchen.”

WPT commentators Vince Van Patten and Tony Dunst will be joined by WPT anchor Lynn Gilmartin in highlighting the action and helping bring the feeling of a WPT final table to the proceedings.

Check out the WPT’s promotional video below to learn more about this upcoming event:

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