Boxer Beat Huge Odds to Win His First World Poker Tour® Title; Turned $19.95 Subscription into $100,000 Win
World Poker Tour® television cameras captured history last night at Commerce Casino as boxer and amateur poker player LeRon "Dream187" Washington earned his first major poker title at the 8th Annual WPT Celebrity Invitational. The 34-year-old West Virginia resident beat incredible odds to take home a big chunk of the $200,000 prize pool—which was donated by Commerce Casino for this exclusive freeroll charity tournament—walking away with $75,000 in cash, a seat to play in the $25,000 WPT World Championship in April and a chance to go pro.
Proving an incredible set of poker skills, Washington came a long way to achieve victory. On January 3, Washington beat 1,683 players in a tournament on www.ClubWPT.com (WPT's legal $19.95/month subscription poker room) to secure the last seat available in the invite-only WPT Celebrity Invitational.
On February 20, Washington flew to Los Angeles where he played in the WPT Celebrity Invitational among Hollywood A-listers and poker's elite, including Teri Hatcher, Eric Dane, Jenny McCarthy, Hank Azaria, Dave Annable, Jerry Ferrara, Eddie Cibrian, LeAnn Rimes, Howard Lederer, Chris Ferguson, Antonio Esfandiari, Mike Matusow and Phil Laak. After two days of tournament play, Washington had fought his way through the field of 567 players to secure his place at the televised final table. On March 3, he returned to Commerce Casino to take his shot at history—and won. It was his first WPT tournament.
Washington's journey has been incredible so far, but this may just be the beginning. Next month he will head to Las Vegas to play in the $25,000 WPT World Championship at Bellagio, which pays out millions and turns amateurs into poker superstars.
"It's a dream come true--I've been waiting for this day a long time," said Washington, who is the first ClubWPT.com qualifier to ever win a WPT event. "I've been trying to get out there to show what I can do, but you have to earn it. ClubWPT gave me the opportunity to make it happen, and here I am. The $20 a month subscription is definitely the best investment I've ever made."
Washington was joined at the final table by Commerce Casino qualifier Steve Elliott, who placed sixth to earn $5,000; poker pro Thor Hansen, who exited in fifth place for $10,000; followed by amateur player Neev Baram who took fourth for $15,000. Reality star Trishelle Cannatella, who continues to make her mark in the poker arena, walked away in third place with $20,000, while Bellagio satellite winner Sean Urban went heads up again Washington to earn $50,000. The $200,000 prize pool was generously donated by Commerce Casino.
"One of the great highlights of the WPT Invitational for Commerce Casino is the opportunity to reward people who love poker, but may not be full time established professionals, whether they are Hollywood stars or people who earned their way through Commerce satellites or partners like ClubWPT.com," said John Griffo, Commerce Casino Director of Poker Operations. "We applaud LeRon for the 'fight' he showed in getting through the field of more than 500 and becoming our new WPT Invitational champion."
The WPT Celebrity Invitational, which is held annually at Commerce Casino, is a three-day Texas Hold 'Em tournament that brings together Hollywood celebrities and poker pros who play for charity, bragging rights, the chance at $200,000 and a WPT title. This year's event pulled a record-setting field of 567 players and raised $109,700 for Chrysalis (www.changelives.org), a non-profit organization dedicated to helping economically disadvantaged and homeless individuals become self-sufficient through employment opportunities.
To see Washington's winner interview and to read more about all the WPT Celebrity Invitational action, visit WPT Live Updates at www.WorldPokerTour.com.
Visit www.ClubWPT.com to take a free two-week trial or to find more information on membership benefits, alternative means of entry and current prizes, including monthly qualifiers for $10,000 WPT Main Event seats. No purchase is necessary for the Club sweepstakes and the service is void in states where prohibited.
ABOUT WORLD POKER TOUR
World Poker Tour (WPT) is one of the most recognized names in internationally televised gaming and entertainment with brand presence in land-based tournaments, television, online and mobile. Leading innovation in the sport of poker since 2002, WPT ignited the global poker boom with the creation of a unique television show based on a series of high stakes poker tournaments. WPT is now broadcast globally in 150 countries and is currently filming its all-new eighth season for broadcast on Fox Sports Net's national sports network in the United States. WPT also offers a unique online subscription and sweepstakes-based poker club, ClubWPT.com, which operates in 38 states across the U.S. WPT also participates in strategic brand license, partnership and sponsorship opportunities. WPT is a subsidiary of PartyGaming Plc. For more information, see www.worldpokertour.com.
About Commerce Casino
Commerce Casino is the largest poker casino in the world. There are more than 200 poker tables featuring just about every form of poker: Texas Hold 'em, 7-Card Stud, Omaha, Lowball, Pot Limit, Mexican Poker, Pineapple, Draw, Low-Ball and many others. Also offered are Pan and California games. Commerce Casino is also recognized for its innovative "Bring Your Home Game to Commerce" program which enables poker fans to invite their friends and family for a casual home game, bachelor party or birthday celebration with a professional dealer in the casino setting.
Commerce Casino is located at 6131 East Telegraph Rd., Commerce, CA 90040, just off the Santa Ana (5) Freeway at the Washington Blvd. exit. The phone is (323) 721-2100. For more information, go to www.commercecasino.com.
About ClubWPT.com
ClubWPT is the official subscription poker site of the World Poker Tour. ClubWPT is not a gambling site. ClubWPT is 100% legal online poker and operates within the "sweepstakes" rules where they are legal. There are no buy-ins, no deposits, and no risk. For a $19.95/month subscription, members receive exclusive benefits including the chance to play for over $100,000 in cash and prizes each month, such as $10,000 seats to World Poker Tour events. ClubWPT offers more than 5,000 tournaments each month, including No Limit Texas Hold' em, Pot Limit Omaha, and Elimination Blackjack.
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Contacts:
World Poker Tour
Lyndsay LaGree
323 330 9876
llagree@worldpokertour.com
