On Sunday, March 11, at The Bazaar At SLS Hotel, A-list celebrities will come together with some of the biggest names in poker for the WPT Foundation Launch Party as they help raise money for the WPT Foundation’s global charity partners. This inaugural event marks the beginning of the poker philanthropy event series WPT Playing for a Better World.
As part of the WPTF Launch Party, attendees will be able to bid on silent auction items featuring everything from an NFL Backstage Pass and a NASCAR Experience with Marianela Pereyra to a Premium Helicopter Tour of LA. On top of those, bids will be accepted for private poker lessons from some of the many top poker pros who will be in attendance at the event. We’ve highlighted those pros and packages below:
Mike Sexton – Dinner at Mastro’s – Retail Value: Priceless
You and a guest will accompany poker Hall of Famer Mike Sexton for dinner at Maestros. You can choose between Beverly Hills, Thousand Oaks or Las Vegas locations and Mike will pick up the tab. For the last decade, Mike Sexton has been the voice of the World Poker Tour and is respectfully known as “The Ambassador of Poker”. Mike is not only the top poker commentator in the industry, but also one of the most skilled players in the game. Mike has been playing poker professionally for more than 30 years and has more than $4 Million in tournament winnings as well as a World Series of Poker bracelet. During dinner discuss poker with Mike and get tips on how to improve your game or learn about his diversified life before poker as a gymnast, baseball coach and ballroom dance instructor. As a true sports fanatic, Mike can converse on any topic in the genre and will be happy to convert you to an Ohio State Buckeye fan. Along with Mike’s vast poker and sports knowledge, he has unbelievable stories from his many years in the industry making this dinner a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Daniel Negreanu – Private Poker Lesson – Retail Value: Priceless
Receive a two hour private poker lesson with poker pro and former WPT Player of the Year, Daniel Negreanu. With more than $14.5 million in tournament winnings, Daniel Negreanu is one of the most profitable poker pros in history and sits third on the all-time money list. He has won two WPT titles, been at seven WPT final tables, and holds four World Series of Poker bracelets. Daniel is considered the best at reading his opponents and uses this to his advantage at the table. Over the last few years, he has admittedly had to evolve his game to combat the growing number of young internet pros breaching the live circuit. Daniel’s ability to constantly improve his game has enabled him to remain one of the best players in poker over the last 10 years making his poker lessons priceless.
Vanessa Selbst – Private Poker Lesson – Retail Value: Priceless
Receive a two hour private poker lesson with poker pro and World Series of Poker Bracelet winner, Vanessa Selbst. Regarded by many pros as one of the most feared players on the poker circuit, Vanessa has accumulated a lifetime of accomplishments in five short years. She has earned more than $4.5 million in tournament winnings, won a World Series of Poker bracelet, won two North American Poker Tour titles, won a Partouche Poker tour title, and has recently scored her first WPT final table. Vanessa’s experience as a poker coach at the beginning of her career helped take her own game to a new level. Don’t miss your opportunity to get a private lesson from an experienced poker instructor and one of the hottest players on tour.
Jamie Gold – Private Poker Lesson – Retail Value: Priceless
Receive a two hour private poker lesson with poker pro and World Series of Poker Champion, Jamie Gold. In 2006, Jamie won a staggering $12 Million dollars at the World Series of Poker Main Event which is still the largest amount ever won at a poker tournament. He led the field by a considerable amount on day four and never relinquished the chip lead through the end of the tournament. He eventually knocked out seven out of eight players at his final table. His ability to talk players into folding when he has an inferior hand and convince them to call when he has an unbeatable hand is unmatched. Learn the secrets of his success in a private lesson and you could be on your way to winning a main event!
Maria Ho – Private Poker Lesson – Retail Value: Priceless
Receive a 2 hour private poker lesson with poker pro and WPT’s Ones to Watch, Maria Ho. With more than $1 Million in tournament winnings, Maria is one of the most profitable female poker pros. She is one of a few women to successfully play high stakes cash games all over the world and is widely recognized for being the last women standing at the 2007 World Series of Poker Main Event. Recently she has set the record for the largest cash for a woman at a WSOP event when she took over $540,000 for a second place finish. Maria has took part in The Amazing Race on CBS and is featured on the World Poker Tour as a Season X One’s to Watch. Don’t miss your opportunity to learn the nuances of tournament and cash game play from one of poker’s best young pros.
Tony Dunst – Private Poker Lesson – Retail Value: Priceless
Receive a two hour private poker lesson with poker pro and WPT’s Raw Deal host, Tony Dunst. Getting his start with online poker, Tony built his reputation as a solid tournament and cash game player, a highly sought-after poker coach, and as a prolific author of strategic and philosophical poker articles. Tony has always been a popular poker blogger thanks to his unique insights and willingness to speak his mind –traits that helped land him the job of hosting the World Poker Tour’s new segment the Raw Deal. Tony analytically breaks down the most contentious hands of the tournament and offers viewers insight of high level poker theory. With more than $1 Million in live and online tournament winnings, Tony has proven that great coaches can also be great players. Don’t miss your shot at learning from one of the best young poker minds and take your game to the next level.
Andy Frankenberger – Private Poker Lesson – Retail Value: Priceless
Receive a two hour private poker lesson with poker pro and WPT Player of the Year, Andy Frankenberger. Coming from selling equity derivatives, Andy stormed into the poker world in 2010 and in the span of a year, won a WPT title, played at a second WPT final table, and bested a group of tough competition to earn the title WPT Player of the year. Since then he has added a World Series of Poker bracelet and a third WPT final table to his resume. In two short years, Andy has accumulated more than $2 Million in tournament winnings and has grown into a well-respected poker pro. If you are looking for a world class poker lesson and maybe a few tips on the derivatives market, this private lesson is what you have been looking for.
Liv Boeree – Private Poker Lesson – Priceless
Receive a two hour private poker lesson with poker pro and EPT Champion, Liv Boeree. Along with being one of the most successful female poker players with more than $2 Million in tournament winnings, Liv earned a degree in astrophysics proving beauty and brains can come in one package. In 2010, Liv outlasted a field of over a thousand entrants at the EPT San Remo event and took down the first place prize of €1.2 Million. On top of playing poker professionally, Liv works as poker analyst for the UK and Ireland Poker Tour and models in her spare time for the likes of Loaded and Maxim. If you have been looking to improve your poker game and want to learn from one of the smartest and sexiest players on tour, this is a can’t miss opportunity.
Liz Lieu – Private Poker Lesson – Retail Value: Priceless
Receive a two hour private poker lesson with high stakes poker pro Liz Lieu. Nicknamed the Poker Diva, Liz embraced the moniker for her affinity for Couture clothing and accessories and her poker prowess. Liz has earned more than $850,000 in tournament winnings even though she rarely plays tournaments, opting for high limit cash games instead where she is considered one of the top players in the World. Liz’s interests have grown to expand far beyond poker and in 2005, she worked with local and global nonprofit organizations and started donating 20 percent of her tournament earnings to charity. Since then she has supported various charities across the globe and in 2011 won the Maven Awards’ Humanitarian Award, given to one woman in the poker industry whose charity work and philanthropic spirit are an inspiration to others. Don’t miss your opportunity to take your cash game to the next level with a private poker lesson from Liz and, who knows, you may even get a few fashion tips along the way.
Vanessa Rousso – Private Poker Lesson – Priceless
Receive a two hour private poker lesson over Skype with poker pro Vanessa Rousso. Known for her analytical and intense style of play, Vanessa has earned over $3.4 Million in tournament winnings. She has won the European High Roller Championship in Monte Carlo for €532,000 and took an impressive third at the WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic at Bellagio for $360,000. Vanessa sits 5th on the women’s all-time money list and continues to be a dominant force on the poker circuit. When she is not grinding at the tables, Vanessa has been a poker activist helping organizations like the Poker Player Alliance petition the government to change their stance on the legalization of online poker. Vanessa also has poker training workshops around the country and has been proven herself as a valuable instructor. If you are ready to take your game to the next level, learn from one of the best and win a private poker lesson with Vanessa.
Andy Bloch – Poker or Blackjack Lesson – Priceless
You and a few of your friends can sit down for a two hour private poker or blackjack lesson in Las Vegas with poker pro Andy Bloch. With more than $4.1 million in career tournament earnings, including a second place finish in the WSOP $50,000 HORSE which garnered him more than $1 million, Andy is one of the best players in the world today. And as former member of the MIT Blackjack team, he’s sure to have many exciting stories to share.
Joe Hachem – Private Poker Lesson – Priceless
Receive a two hour private poker lesson with poker pro and WPT Champion, Joe Hachem. Joe burst onto the poker world in 2005 winning the World Series Main Event for $7.5 million. He became the first Australian to win the Main Event and became an instant poker celebrity. He proved that the win was not a fluke taking down the WPT 5 Diamonds Main Event the following year. Joe is one of only five players to win both the WSOP Main event and a WPT Main Event, has more than $11.7 million in tournament winnings and sits 8th on the all-time tournament money list. Joe has proven that he is one of the top poker professionals in the game, so don’t miss your opportunity to learn from a true champion.