Super High Roller Shootout Brings Comedy Greats to the Table
There’s something about poker that fascinates celebrities from all kinds of different careers and walks of life. Love for the sport of poker draws in celebrities such as actors like Ben Affleck and Don Cheadle; television personalities such as Ali Nejad and Victoria Coren; athletes Michael Phelps and Rafael Nadal; and even comedians like Kevin Pollak, Sarah Silverman, and Tammy Pescatelli.
Some, like Ben Affleck and Victoria Coren have a history of hitting the tables since before they attained celebrity status. Others, like Ali Nejad, had a different career in mind (in his case, television personality) and after using poker as a stepping-stone, later made it a career. A few, like Michael Phelps, got drawn in by friends who were professional poker players, and it has since become a second career for them.
The Super High Roller Celebrity Shootout
Whatever the reason, being a celebrity and playing poker walk hand in hand for quite a few – and it is just common sense that celebrities playing poker would draw their fans’ attention. Why else would Poker Central host the Super High Roller Celebrity Shootout? This annual tournament was held earlier this summer at the ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, on June 27-28th. Playing for a grand total of $1 million, five celebrities and five poker professionals squared off against each other.
The matches were a pleasure to watch, and for those that missed it, this is how it went down: the celebrities played one another until there was only one left standing. At the other table, the poker professionals did the same. And for the finale, the winners of the celebrity table and the poker professionals table faced off for the first-place prize.
The Celebrity Contenders
Actors Brad Garrett and Don Cheadle were just two of the big-name celebrity contenders. Even though these two are pulling down Emmys and helping set box office records, they still have time to stay active in the poker community. Hank Azaria’s experience in poker comes partly from regular games with a circle of friends. From there, he discovered an interest that eventually beat a path to the Super High Roller Celebrity Shootout. Kevin Pollak started playing poker when a cousin of his taught him how to play when he was younger. Kevin Pollak’s association with poker in an official capacity started with hosting season 1 of the Celebrity Poker Showdown. Later, he decided to go back to playing and entered the World Series of Poker Main Event. Comedian Norm Macdonald began his relationship with poker very young, playing for fun with a friend as travelled the circuit of different Las Vegas casinos. He hosted High Stakes Poker, and has competed in the World Series of Poker. He’s as serious as they come around the poker table.
These five celebrities went up against poker greats such as Antonio Esfandiari, the largest cash prize winner in poker history; professional poker player Daniel Negreanu, #1 on the World’s All-Time Money List; Doyle Brunson, former leader of the Texas Rounders; Phil Hellmuth, 14-time WSOP bracelet winner; and Vanessa Selbst, the highest-earning female player in the game.
The Super High Roller Celebrity Shootout couldn’t help being a success: the recipe has been tried and tested. For sure, the game itself was pretty serious. But fans of Hank Azaria, Kevin Pollak, Norm Macdonald, Don Cheadle and Brad Garrett, found themselves irresistibly watching as their favorite celebrities took on the poker pros at their own game.
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