Celebrities To Watch For At The 43rd Annual World Series Of Poker
May 16th, 2012
The World Series of Poker draws the best and brightest in the poker world to Las Vegas every summer in a quest to take down the coveted gold bracelet. In recent year, celebrities have also jumped on board the poker bandwagon and there are several that come out to Vegas every year hoping that they can catch lightening in a bottle.
Several big name actors make annual trips to the WSOP. Ray Romano and Brad Garrett from Everybody Loves Raymond are both regular participants in the WSOP Main Event and Garrett has played in several preliminary events through the years. Neither have cashed in the Main Event, but Romano made the final table of the Ante up for Africa Charity Event in 2008 and finished in 8th place.
Other actors that have made the annual trek to the WSOP include Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and Tobey Maguire. Maguire may be among the more successful actors to play at the WSOP having three cashes in WSOP events, including the 2007 WSOP Main Event where he cashed for $39,000. Former Seinfeld co-star Jason Alexander has also been at the event for the last few years but has yet to cash in any regular event.
Actors are not the only celebrities that play at the WSOP. Sports stars that travel to the event annually are former Dodgers great Orel Hersheiser and Paul Pierce of the Boston Celtics. Rapper Nelly has been a regular player at the event for years and Antrhax lead guitarist Scott Ian has also been a staple of the event.
This year should be no different as both Ray Romano and Brad Garrett are sure to be in the field in addition to Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. Scott Ian will almost certainly be there should his tour with Anthrax not interfere.
Jason Alexander is almost certain to be there and could very well be a contender if he doesn’t bust out in the first couple of levels. You may even see Simpsons co-creator Sam Simon in the field as he has been known to play at the WSOP from time to time.
As poker continues to grow in popularity around the world, expect more celebrities to try their hand at the game. Whether or not they win a dime at the tables, the right event can still bring a lot of exposure and performing well can gain them a following with an entirely new fan base.
