PokerWorks

Professional poker players have a platform to reach large numbers of people, and often they use that access to benefit worthy charities. Well-known and long time pro Hoyt Corkins is doing just that by hosting the Hoyt Corkins Celebrity Poker Tournament on November 8th in Las Vegas, and the festivities surrounding the event will span the entire three days of the weekend. And it’s all being done to benefit the Nevada chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).

The events are set to begin on Friday, November 7th at noon at the Harley-Davidson Store with one-table $60 qualifying tournaments, where players can win entries into the Saturday charity poker tournament. The day continues with complimentary drinks and free seminars from WPT Boot Camp.

In conjunction with the unveiling of the new Harley-Davidson Store, the no-limit hold’em poker tournament will be held the next day with celebrity poker players. At 3pm on Saturday, November 8th, players will line up to buy into the $500 main event to benefit JDRF. The tournament will also provide the opportunity for multiple rebuys during the first three levels at $200 per rebuy, along with one $200 add-on allowed. Prizes consist of a Curtis & Co. watch, a crystal trophy, Harley-Davidson merchandise, and the grand prize of a 2008 105th Anniversary Edition Harley-Davidson motorcycle for the winner of the tournament.

Numerous poker celebrities have committed to play in the tournament, including Doyle, Todd, and Pam Brunson, Phil Hellmuth, Cyndy Violette, Brad Booth, Chip and Karina Jett, Brandon Cantu, Jeff Madsen, Lee Watkinson, James Van Alstyne, Tiffany Michelle, 2008 WSOP final tablists David Rheem and Dennis Phillips, Mark Newhouse, Jerry Yang, and Marco Traniello.

Also taking place on Saturday will be a prize raffle, a silent auction with sports memorabilia, and a live auction with autographed poker memorabilia. All proceeds from all activities will also benefit JDRF. Though all festivities are open to the public, tournament seating is limited, so preregistration is recommended on the DoylesRoom website.

Speaking of DoylesRoom, which includes Hoyt Corkins as one of its most notable sponsored players, the site is following up to do even more for JDRF. A week after the conclusion of the benefit weekend, DoylesRoom is hosting a follow-up online tournament for only $5 + $5 on Sunday, November 16th. The no-limit hold’em tournament, for which half of the buy-in will be donated to the charity, will feature unlimited $5 rebuys for the first thirty minutes and a $5 add-on, all of which go directly to JDRF.

Founded in 1970, JDRF is a non-profit organization that advocates for Type 1 diabetes (affecting juveniles) research worldwide. In children, diabetes can be particularly complicated with life-threatening complications that sometimes include kidney failure, blindness, stroke, heart disease, and amputation. JDRF has awarded more than $1.16 billion to research efforts thus far and has funded more than 700 centers, grants, and fellowships.

More information about the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation can be found at www.JDRF.org.