Last weekend the 2005 WSOP Champion Joe Hachem and the retired Aussie cricket superstar Shane Warne gathered in Crown Casino's Studio 3 in Melbourne to host the fifth annual Joe Hachem and Shane Warne Charity Poker Tournament. On Sunday night Studio 3, which is the official film studio of the Aussie Millions, welcomed many sports, TV, and poker celebrities - all of whom helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for The Shane Warne Foundation.
Among those to step on the red carpet were Australian Football League (AFL) players Luke Hodge, Leigh Montagna, Gary Ablett Jr., Brendon Goddard, Jason Akermanis, Jimmy Bartel, Dermott Brereton, AFL media personality Dermott Brereton, TV star Fifi Box, and pro boxer Jeff Fenech.
The list of celebrities that attended the charity event also featured some of the world's biggest poker celebrities – Tony G, Patrik Antonius, Tony Hachem, Robert Williamson III, Daniel Cates, Tiffany Michelle, Maria Ho, Clonie Gowen, Marsha Waggoner, Marvin Rettenmaier, and Annette Obrestad.
Not only did the tournament raise money for the The Shane Warne Foundation – a charity organization dedicated to enrich lives of seriously ill and underprivileged children in Australia – it also rewarded the top 11 players with tickets to WSOP and Aussie Millions events. The winner of the tournament received a 2012 World Series of Poker High Rollers Package including Main Event entry cash for travel and accommodation, plus a Tissot PRS516 watch, and a cricket ball signed by Shane Warne.
Second and third place finishers were rewarded seats in the 2012 Aussie Millions Main Event while the rest of the top players were to receive tickets to the Aussie Millions Supershot satellite tournament and seats at the 888 Poker online qualifier.
“Very interesting, I think I was the oldest there by 20 years.” the reigning Aussie Millions champion David Gorr told PokerNews. “They had to get the charity event down to the final table, so they increased the blinds very quickly . . . but then I played in a $200 Last Chance and I got to the final table, I made another final table [at the Aussie Millions]!”
ShaneWarne finished in eighth places while the most winningest Australian poker player of all time, Joe Hachem ended the event in third place. However, no one was as good that night as 36-year-old forklift driver Glen McGregor who outlasted the celebrity-packed field and took home the first-place prize – 2012 WSOP package.
The final Joe Hachem and Shane Warne Charity Poker Tournament standings and prizes:
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glen McGregor | 2012 WSOP Package |
| 2 | Alain Boratuad | Aussie Millions Main Event Seat |
| 3 | Joe Hachem | Aussie Millions Main Event Seat |
| 4 | Kris McKenzie | Aussie Millions $1,650 Feature Event Seat |
| 5 | Steven Baker | |
| 6 | Craig Schloeffel | Aussie Millions Supershot satellite |
| 7 | John Millar | Aussie Millions Supershot satellite |
| 8 | Shane Warne | Aussie Millions Supershot satellite |
| 9 | Aaron Hamill | Aussie Millions Supershot satellite |
| 10 | Martin Rettenmaier | Aussie Millions Supershot satellite |
| 11 | Annette Obrestad | 888poker Satellite Ticket |
Photo courtesy of PokerNews.com
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