22/06/2004 19:40
Ben Affleck Wins Commerce Casino's California State Poker Championship
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COMMERCE, Calif., June 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Proving that his poker skills are just as accomplished as his acting talents, Ben Affleck became the first film star to win a major poker open last night when he captured Commerce Casino's California State Poker Championship's $10,000-buy in event that netted him a cool $356,400 for first place, and a seat at the World Poker Tour Championship next April.
The actor outlasted a field of 90 players, including Tobey Maguire, who went out the first day of the three-day tournament, but stuck around to see the finish. Coming in second was poker pro Stan Goldstein and third was Castle Rock Entertainment president and co-founder Chuck Pacheco. Affleck used a couple of pairs -- two jacks in the case of Goldstein and two fives with Pacheco to knock them out of the tournament.
Casino executives said that Affleck played "a very strong game" and that he was relaxed and enjoyed himself immensely. In a brief speech after the tournament while being awarded his trophy, Affleck congratulated Goldstein on being a worthy opponent. With self-deprecating humor, the actor noted he was pleased with his own play, serving notice to the skeptics that he wasn't "a complete donkey" at poker. Among the players Affleck outlasted at the final table was former World Champion John Esposito.
Full story:Mysan
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