Phil Gordon Beats Shannon Elizabeth To Win 4th Annual Ante Up for Africa Tournament

This year’s 4th Annual WSOP Ante Up for Africa tournament was hailed as a great success, and is expected to have raised an additional $1 million to go with the $3 million already raised for charitable causes by the event organisers.
Amongst the 81 top flight celebrities attracted to the $5,000 buy-in tournament were Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Brad Garret, Montel Williams, Don Cheadle, Evander Holyfield, as well as a formidable contingent of poker pros including Phil Ivey, Annie Duke, Chris Ferguson, Phil Gordon, and Erik Seidel.
As the fast paced tournament progressed, Matt Damon put up a strong performance but was eliminated in 26th place soon after Howard Lederer and Chris Ferguson were moved to his table.
Eventually just Phil Gordon and Shannon Elizabeth were left to battle it out heads-up to determine the winner of the non-bracelet WSOP event. Finally, a short stacked Elizabeth pushed pre-flop holding K-10 and was called by Gordon holding Q-3. The board ran out Q-6-8-A-5 to hand Gordon the win and the $130,641 first place prize.
As has become traditional, much of the $408,240 total prize pool, including Gordon’s winnings were donated back to the charity which aims to improve the lives of the impoverished in Africa.
Despite having finished as the runner-up in the tournament, Shannon Elizabeth was clearly delighted with her deep run in the competition and jumped up on Gordon, wrapping her legs around the surprised victor’s waist.
After managing to compose himself, Gordon commented; “I know this isn’t a bracelet event, but it feels like one,” while Elizabeth quipped; “I wish the rest of my WSOP had gone the way this tournament went.”
ESPN is expected to show all the action from the 4th Annual Ante Up for Africa charity event later on in the year, as part of their WSOP coverage.