If you visit the Rio this week you may run across some buzz and commotion, regarding two very special guests at the no limit Hold'Em cash game table at the Rio. Apparently two seats have been reserved for Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, celebrity poker tournament contestants in Las Vegas. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are attending the tournament in an attempt to shed light on the situation in the Darfur region of the Sudan and raise awareness and capital funds for assisting the region there. The human rights violations in the Darfur region have been well chronicled, although they do not get much coverage in American media. While industry experts are baffled as to why such a media blackout has occurred in regards to information about the Sudan and the Darfur region, the fact remains that wholesale genocide is occurring on a massive scale in the Sudan.

 

Over 170 players competed in the no limit Hold'Em tournament including Phil Ivey and Shannon Elizabeth, another famous celebrity actress who starred in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Scary Movie and other feature films as well as appearing in Playboy and other magazines. To play at the table in the tournament would cost 5000 dollars with those responsible for organizing the event hoping that at least half of the winnings would be donated to a charitable organization preferably towards relieving the upheaval in the Sudan.

 

There is some speculation that after the charity tournament is over the two actors might join the 100/200 game at the Rio, seeing as how both are avid players and Ben Affleck actually won a major tournament at one point, receiving a significant cash prize. Considering the point that Matt Damon played in the movie rounders, focusing on poker and playing poker, it is not surprising to see the interest that he appears to have in playing poker.

 

The question of whether Affleck and Damon will be playing in the main event is up in the air, but it is very likely that at least Affleck will play as well as other celebrities such as Tobey Maguire, Shannon Elizabeth and the inimitable James Woods, all accomplished players on the tournament level. The competition will most likely be very fierce as, despite being for charity the players will no doubt be doing their best to win against each other.