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Affleck Jacks Up Poker Competition
June 22, 2004
LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - It was a superhero showdown of sorts this past weekend when "Daredevil" star Ben Affleck outlasted "Spider-Man's" Tobey Maguire and 89 other players to win Commerce Casino's California State Poker Championship.
The 31-year-old Affleck coolly revealed a pair of jacks to win the first place prize of $356,400 against poker pro Stan Goldstein. Coming in third in the $10,000 buy-in event was Castle Rock Entertainment president and co-founder Chuck Pacheco. Maguire was defeated during the first day of the three-day tournament, but stuck around to see his fellow actor win all.
While Affleck received his trophy, he joked that he wasn't "a complete donkey" at poker and graciously congratulated Goldstein for being a worthy opponent. Affleck is an avid poker player and credits Gabe Kaplan, the actor-turned poker pro, for tutoring him.
Besides the sizable monetary prize, winning the tournament also lands Affleck a coveted $25,000-seat in the World Poker Tour Championship that will be held at the Bellagio hotel in April next year.
"This is not likely the last time you'll see Ben Affleck at one of our final tables," says Nancy Friedman, Commerce Casino's marketing manager. "He has become a respected member of the poker elite and continues to work to improve his game. We expect he'll be a big factor in the World Poker Tour Invitational and the LA Poker Classic early next year as well. At this rate, Ben might even being toying with turning acting into his avocation and poker into his vocation."
Commerce Casino is the largest poker casino in the world, boasting over 200 poker tables.
Affleck's victory is part of his comeback ever since the "Gigli" fiasco and public break-up with Jennifer Lopez in 2003. He recently starred opposite Liv Tyler in "Jersey Girl" and just wrapped shooting the holiday comedy "Surviving Christmas."
Printed from Zap2it.com. Visit us at http://www.zap2it.com/movies for breaking movie news, features, showtimes and much more.
Copyright 2004 Zap2it.com/Tribune Media Services
June 22, 2004
LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - It was a superhero showdown of sorts this past weekend when "Daredevil" star Ben Affleck outlasted "Spider-Man's" Tobey Maguire and 89 other players to win Commerce Casino's California State Poker Championship.
The 31-year-old Affleck coolly revealed a pair of jacks to win the first place prize of $356,400 against poker pro Stan Goldstein. Coming in third in the $10,000 buy-in event was Castle Rock Entertainment president and co-founder Chuck Pacheco. Maguire was defeated during the first day of the three-day tournament, but stuck around to see his fellow actor win all.
While Affleck received his trophy, he joked that he wasn't "a complete donkey" at poker and graciously congratulated Goldstein for being a worthy opponent. Affleck is an avid poker player and credits Gabe Kaplan, the actor-turned poker pro, for tutoring him.
Besides the sizable monetary prize, winning the tournament also lands Affleck a coveted $25,000-seat in the World Poker Tour Championship that will be held at the Bellagio hotel in April next year.
"This is not likely the last time you'll see Ben Affleck at one of our final tables," says Nancy Friedman, Commerce Casino's marketing manager. "He has become a respected member of the poker elite and continues to work to improve his game. We expect he'll be a big factor in the World Poker Tour Invitational and the LA Poker Classic early next year as well. At this rate, Ben might even being toying with turning acting into his avocation and poker into his vocation."
Commerce Casino is the largest poker casino in the world, boasting over 200 poker tables.
Affleck's victory is part of his comeback ever since the "Gigli" fiasco and public break-up with Jennifer Lopez in 2003. He recently starred opposite Liv Tyler in "Jersey Girl" and just wrapped shooting the holiday comedy "Surviving Christmas."
Printed from Zap2it.com. Visit us at http://www.zap2it.com/movies for breaking movie news, features, showtimes and much more.
Copyright 2004 Zap2it.com/Tribune Media Services
