| Turn the channel to any high-stakes poker event, and | | | | Tour Ladies Invitational Tournament and competed in |
| chances are high that you'll see at least one Hollywood | | | | Poker Royale, Poker Superstars, and Celebrity Poker |
| celebrity in the thick of the action. With flexible | | | | Showdown. |
| schedules and larger-than-average bankrolls, celebrities | | | | Josh Malina - With acting credits such as Sports Night |
| have both the time and inclination to hone their poker | | | | and The West Wing, Malina is a respected actor of |
| playing skills in tournaments around the world. Some, of | | | | both the stage and screen. He is also an avid poker |
| course, never rise above the rank of amateur, but | | | | player. In fact, when he was struggling to get his |
| others go on to become familiar faces in the world of | | | | career off the ground, he would often play poker in |
| poker. What follows is a list of ten of the best celebrity | | | | order to have enough money to pay his rent. Now that |
| poker players in the world (listed in no particular order). | | | | he's financially secure, Malina is spreading his love of |
| Ben Affleck - It's hard to argue Affleck's status as one | | | | poker by producing Bravo's Celebrity Poker |
| of the best celebrity poker players in the world after | | | | Showdown. |
| he won the California State Poker Championship in | | | | Matt Damon - After starring in the poker film |
| June of 2004 (where he won $356,400). When he's | | | | Rounders, you might expect the world-famous Damon |
| not acting in movies such as Daredevil or | | | | to know his way around a deck of cards. He's a |
| Armageddon, Affleck collects vintage video-arcade | | | | regular entrant in the annual World Series of Poker, |
| machines and has been known to take poker lessons | | | | and his most interesting WSOP story occurred back in |
| from pros like Amir Vahedi and Annie Duke. His win at | | | | 1998. Miramax Studios entered both he and Edward |
| the California Championship also qualified him for a | | | | Norton in the WSOP Main Event ($10,000 buy-in) to |
| seat at the 2004 World Poker Tour final tournament. | | | | promote the upcoming Rounders. Damon played well, |
| Patrick Bruel - Patrick Bruel is a well-known French | | | | but he was eliminated on the first day by poker legend |
| singer and actor, having performed in over 40 | | | | Doyle Brunson after Damon's pocket kings failed to |
| television and film productions and recorded numerous | | | | beat Brunson's pocket aces. |
| top-selling albums. He also happens to be a world-class | | | | Tobey Maguire - In October of 2004, the star of the |
| poker player. So while he may go unrecognized by | | | | Spider-Man franchise demonstrated his poker skills by |
| American movie audiences, poker players from around | | | | winning the first-ever Phil Hellmuth Invitational Poker |
| the world will instantly recognize his face. Why? Well, in | | | | Tournament. He also picked up $95,480 for the win, |
| 1998 Patrick picked up a World Series of Poker | | | | causing Andy Bellin to remark to Phil Hellmuth, "This kid |
| bracelet for winning the 1998 $5000 Limit Hold'em | | | | could be a legitimate pro." He has finished in the money |
| event. He has also placed in the money numerous | | | | in several other events and has received lessons from |
| times in WSOP events, and earned over $750,000 in | | | | poker pro Daniel Negreanu. And keep in mind that he's |
| live play events. | | | | only been playing seriously since 2004. |
| Jennifer Tilly - This Oscar-nominated actress has | | | | James Woods - Having starred in movies such as |
| starred in such hits as The Fabulous Baker Boys and | | | | Salvador and Another Day in Paradise, James Woods |
| Bullets Over Broadway. However, she has publicly | | | | is one of America's most respected actors. And not |
| stated that she's becoming more interested in poker | | | | only is he a familiar face in poker rooms across the |
| than acting. One look at her accomplishments in the | | | | country, he's also the face of a new poker site. Their |
| poker world and it's easy to see why. In June of 2005, | | | | selling point is that players have a chance to match |
| Tilly outlasted 600 other players and won her first | | | | poker wits with top stars like Woods. Not that |
| World Series of Poker bracelet (and $158,625) in the | | | | matching wits with Woods is a good idea, considering |
| Ladies' No-Limit Hold'em event, becoming the first | | | | he has a 180 I.Q. In 2006, Woods finished in 24th place |
| celebrity to do so. She has also won the World Poker | | | | out of 692 at the L.A. Poker Classic for $40,000. |