WPT bringing sexy back for celeb invitational

Mining the remaining veins of glamour left in the poker industry, the World Poker Tour is setting up for a swank affair in Los Angeles next month.

On March 3, the WPT hosts its Invitational event with a marquee bearing names of poker's top pros and Hollywood stars.

The WPT brands the fifth annual tournament as the tour's most glamorous stop, with the action taking place at L.A.'s Commerce Casino, a surprisingly unglamorous venue.

This year's invite list includes James Woods, Don Cheadle, Camryn Manheim, Woody Harrelson, Jay Mohr, Jason Alexander, Hank Azaria, Mekhi Phifer, Andy Roddick, Pete Sampras, Cheryl Hines, Ron Livingston, Mila Kunis, Laura Prepon, Danny Masterson, Kerry Washington, Marlon Wayans, Rex Lin, Orel Hershiser and Judy Greer.

The milestone five-year mark promises to make this annual tournament the biggest yet, said WPT CEO Steve Lipscomb in a release.

"The Invitational is one of our favorite events - it's amazing to watch as the field of A-list celebrities and top pros come together to battle it out, then sit side-by-side in utter awe of each other," he said.

Today the stars have the chance to polish their poker game before the big event at a training academy with WPT hosts Mike Sexton and Vince Van Patten. The men will be instructing the wannabe rounders at a three-day pre-Oscar event in Hollywood.

The last famous face in the Invitational will receive a $10,000 donation to the charity of his choice, in addition to a $10,000 donation from the WPT to nonprofit arts and entertainment advocacy group, The Creative Coalition.

The six-person final table squares off March 5 in a televised event - the winner of which will receive $100,000 and a $25,000 seat at the WPT World Championship.

Don't expect to catch the action on television anytime soon, though: The Invitational is slated to air on the travel channel July 4.

courtesy of Erin Warner

News Added: 23 February, 2007

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