BY TOM SOMACH

A celebrity charity tournament held at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas raised over a half-million dollars in aid for the crisis in Darfur.

The Ante Up for Africa tourney, co-sponsored by actor Don Cheadle and poker pro Annie Duke, was a no-limit, Texas hold ‘em tournament that featured 167 entrants who each ponied up $5,000 to participate.

The top 18 finishers ended up in the money.

While many of the entrants were Hollywood celebrities and poker professionals, the event was also open to the general public.

Technically, there was no “winner” of the tournament.

When the tourney field was whittled down to two remaining players, poker pro Dan Shak of Bryn Mawr, Pa., USA, and amateur Brandon Moran of Chicago, Ill, USA, with Shak ahead, the two agreed to end the tournament and donate all their winnings to charity.

The two, who were branded “co-winners,” ended up donating a total of=A0 about $300,000.

Finishing fourth in the tournament was Dr. Kathy Hellmuth, wife of top poker pro Phil “Poker Brat” Hellmuth Jr., who emceed the event.

She earned $40,000 and donated it all to charity.

Finishing 10th in the tournament was actor Jason Alexander, of “Seinfeld” fame.

According to tournament organizers, all 18 players who finished in the money donated all or part of their winnings to charity.

Other celebrities who participated in the tournament were Cheadle, Duke, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Doyle “Texas Dolly” Brunson,=A0 Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Shannon Elizabeth, Willie Garson, Jen Tilley, Hank Azaria, Kevin James, Martin Sheen, George Lopez, Danny Masterson, Phil “Unabomber” Laak, Mekhi Phifer, Erik Seidel, James Woods, Mike “The Mouth” Matusow, Daniel Negreanu, Adam Sandler, Ray Romano, Brad Garrett, Phil “Poison” Ivey, Ted Forrest, Jen Harman, Clonie Gowen, Cheryl Hines, Charles Barkley and Chris “Jesus” Ferguson.

(E-mail Tom Somach at tomsomach@yahoo.com.)