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Saturday, March 8, 2008

IFC hosting celebrity poker tournament

By Arthur Crowson

Fighters are trading their gloves for cards at the 1st Annual International Fighting Championship Celebrity Poker tournament on May 25 at the Orleans Casino in Las Vegas.

The event marks the debut of the newly formed fighting organization. A number of stars have already expressed interest in playing, including Vin Diesel, Ice Cube, Steve Baldwin and Wolfgang Puck, along with MMA/boxing industry professionals like Kevin Randleman, Frank Trigg, Dean Lister and Shonie Carter.

The tournament is open to any interested player and the buy-in is just $250. Despite the low buy-in first place will net the winner a seat into the WSOP $10,000 buy-in Main Event in addition to numerous other prizes.

It's the deal of the century, according to tournament organizer and IFC photographer Gary England.

"I really think we are going to blow the top off the Orleans," England said. "We've got a ton of fighters that are going to play as well as some celebrities and we haven't really started recruiting yet. My phone has been ringing off the hook with people interested in playing in the tournament since it was announced."

In addition players will be treated to a VIP party at the posh Blush nightclub at the Wynn the night before the poker tournament.

Lister, Carter and Din Thomas will be attending the tournament on behalf of Owned Entertainment, which is filming a thriller set in the world of Mixed Martial Arts.

Given that tournament organizers are already estimating a field of over 500 players the event could potentially be very lucrative, with the top 10% of players getting paid. Along with all that, every player who makes the final table will receive the $1,000 entry into the Orleans Open.

If a player is lucky enough to hit a royal flush during the tournament they will receive an impressive boating package from Campion that includes a boat, motor, trailer and truck. That package will be awarded to the first player that makes the fabled poker hand.

The Penthouse girls will also be attending the tournament and along with the celebrities will be available for autographs.

To top it all off the final table of the tournament will take place in a fighting cage and the winner will receive a fighting championship-style belt.

"This tournament will knock the lights out of any poker fan," England said.

It's an important event for the newly organized International Fighting Championship LLC which will host its first fight June 21.

The tournament will start at 11 a.m. (PST) on May 25, with registration beginning at 8 a.m. You can pre-register online at www.internationalfightingchampionship.com.