Phil Hellmuth, UltimateBet.com, and litany of stars team up for Hurricane Katrina relief

UltimateBet.com and poker pros Phil Hellmuth and Russ Hamilton have teamed up to sponsor three online tournaments to raise money for those who were unlucky enough to have met Hurricane Katrina last week.

UltimateBet.com and Excapsa Software, the company UltimateBet.com licenses its software from, will match the funds brought in by the tournaments, up to $25,000 each, and Hellmuth and Hamilton have already donated $10,000 each to the cause.

The three-tournament series starts Thursday, Sept. 8, with a $5 + $5 no-limit hold'em event, in which $5 goes to the tournament's prize pool and $5 goes to the relief fund. On Friday, Sept. 9, the same structure will be in place for a $25 + $25 tourney.

But nothing compares to Saturday, Sept. 10's, $150 + $150 event, in which the monetary prizes are sure to be hefty, as well as the donation to relief.

Many poker, sport and television celebrities have donated their time as gifts to give people participating in the event things that not even money can buy.

Players could win lunch with former NFLer Troy Aikman, or with poker stars Phil Laak, Antonio Esfandiari, and Jennifer Tilly, who also acted in a movie or two.

Players can also win back-to-back lessons with Hellmuth and tennis great Andy Roddick; dinner with professional poker champion Annie Duke; a golf lesson and lunch with Corey Pavin; a one-hour poker lesson with T.J. Cloutier; a seat in a private $1-$2 no-limit hold'em game with "That 70s Show" stars Laura Prepon, Chris and Danny Masterson, and poker great Johnny Chan, who will give lessons; and two press passes and a look into how ESPN televises a college football game with former UCLA star and colorman David Norrie.

Hellmuth will appraise the value of the gifts and rank them accordingly.

UltimateBet.com is also giving players the opportunity to donate to the relief fund through its site using money customers already have in their accounts.

For more information, visit UltimateBet.com.

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