Hundreds of celebrities, socialites and poker players battled for a good cause this week on the Paramount Pictures studio lot in Hollywood, California, during the 13th annual Variety Poker and Casino Night.
The charity event, hosted by 2006 World Series of Poker Main Event champion Jamie Gold, raised money for Variety - The Children's Charity of Southern California, a nonprofit that helps provide funding, healthcare, and mobility for special needs children.
Those in attendance included actors like Sean Kanan (Cobra Kaiand The Karate Kid Part III) and Erin Murphy (Bewitched), pro boxer Ryan Garcia and poker personalities Princess Love, Ryan Feldman and James Hartigan, the runner-up of last year's event.
PokerNews'own Connor Richards, Jon Sofen and Liam Black were also there for the charity event action, which consisted of a $250 buy-in mid-stakes event and a $500 high-stakes event.
Read About Last Year's Charity Event!
The charity night kicked off just as the sun set on the Hollywood hills and the stars made their way to the red carpet, which is where PokerNewscaught up with a few attendees. Actor Mekhi Phifer said he "can't even count how many times" he's supported the Variety charity event.
"I think as long as they've been doing it, if I haven't been out of town working or shooting or something like that," the ERactor said. "I try to come and support every time. It's all about the kids. Good vibes, good energy, good people. And, you know, I'll keep coming until they stop serving good food and good drinks."
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Phifer starred in 8 Milealongside Eminem and offered insight into whether the rap legend plays any poker.
"I don't think so. I think he's stuck in the studio! I don't think he knows much about the game of poker. At least, I've never played with him."
After an hour of cocktails and table games, a handful of special needs kids rode across the red carpet on adaptive tricycles as their parents spoke about the good Variety had done. The mother of Austin, who has cerebral palsy, spoke about losing her home in the LA wildfires and said Variety was one of the first to help.
It was then time to auction several items for charity, including a rare autographed baseball from catcher Roy Campanella, a replica of Kobe Bryant's championship rings and a signed LeRoy Neiman poker painting that sold for $5,000. One of the items, which were announced by a lively auctioneer in an even livelier glittery gold jacket, went to Garcia.
Jamie Gold, who spoke at length about his charity efforts in a January episode of the Life Outside Pokerpodcast, gave opening remarks before introducing legendary UFC announcer Bruce Buffer for a memorable "shuffle up and deal" announcement.
Buffer made his way to his tournament seat and quickly found himself on the winning end of a four-way all-in at a table that included PokerNews'Jon Sofen. Sofen was the first out on Team PokerNewsbefore Connor Richards fell to lose his seat next to Phifer. Liam Black, meanwhile, battled side-by-side with Ray J before eventually busting to the R&B star.
Elsewhere, Garcia rebought into the event after his opponent hit the river as Gold narrated the hand over his shoulder.
Richards fared better in the mid-stakes event, eliminating Al Lewis in the first orbit before Lewis rebought and the two ended up together at the final table hours later. Richards finished 9th to win a Paramount merch bag alongside the other final tablists, while Lewis took the event down to win a bracelet and hotel package.
Courtney Warner had a memorable win in the high-stakes event as she eliminated two opponents with the "Dirty Diaper," a hand made famous at the WSOP by Nicholas Rigby.
Learn more about Variety - The Children's Charity of Southern California and its charity poker events at varietysocal.org.
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