Who are the Poker-playing Stars
The popularity of poker is quite contagious that even the movie stars have been bitten by the bug. Truly, these stars have achieved their own status in the realm of serious poker playing.
BEN AFFLECK is one of the best poker players in Hollywood. He was mentored by the pros in the likes of Annie Duke and Amir Vahedi. He has won at the 2004 California State Poker Championship with a prize of $ 356,400 which qualified him at the 2004 World Poker Tour finals.
PATRICK BRUEL is a famous French singer-actor and a top-notch poker player. He is quite unfamiliar to the American audience as an actor, but as a poker player, millions around the world know him. Patrick won his 1st bracelet in 1998 WSOP at the $ 5,000 Limit Hold'em event. He also made it in the money on several occasions in the WSOP and has a total of more than $ 750,000 in tournament earnings.
JENNIFER TILLY is an Oscar-nominated star which starred in both movies and in Broadway. She won over the 600 participants in the 2005 WSOP Ladies' No-limit Hold'em and took home her 1st bracelet and $ 158,625 prize. Jennifer has also won at the WPT Ladies' Invitational and has participated in Poker Superstars, Celebrity Poker Showdown and Poker Royale.
JOSH MALINA is a screen and stage actor who enjoys poker so much that he produced the Celebrity Poker Showdown on Bravo TV. He is a fervent poker player and during his struggling years as an actor, he would play poker in order to have money to pay the bills.
MATT DAMON is a regular participant at the WSOP. In 1998, Miramax Studios entered him and Edward Norton in the WSOP's main event in order to promote their movie Rounders. Matt played very well, but he lost against Doyle Brunson on the very first day.
TOBEY MAGUIRE the star of Spiderman is among the best players in Hollywood. He has won the 1st Phil Hellmuth Invitational and took home $ 95,480. Tobey has finished several times in the money and he was mentored by Daniel Negreanu.
JAMES WOODS is one of the US's most respected stars. He took 24th place at the 2006 L.A. Poker Classic with $ 40,000 prize. MIMI ROGERS has won at the Hollywood Home Game at one time and has made it in the money at the WPT's Shooting Star Championship tourney.
WIL WHEATON is an avid online poker player with membership at the Team PokerStars.com. He has played at the 2005 World Series of Poker, has also played in some of L.A.'s money games and has participated at the WPT championship.
GABE KAPLAN is a great poker player. His 1st participation at the WSOP was in 1978. He took 3rd place at the No-limit event of the 2004 WPT and $ 250,000. He has won 2nd place in WSOP as well, and his total earnings is over $ 680,000.