People worldwide have been watching with dismay as one of the largest wildfires in Australian history has ravaged the country. Since it started on February 7th, the southern part of Victoria state has seen nearly 2,000 homes destroyed and, worse yet, 201 people killed during what is alleged to have been an intentionally set fire. In an effort to help those who have been affected by the tragedy, an online poker site will be having a charity poker tournament to help out.
888Poker will be having “The Bushfire Relief Charity Tournament” this Sunday, which has also been designated a national day of mourning in Australia. The No Limit Hold’em tournament will donate all of the funds generated from the $30 buy in and rebuys to benefit The Variety and Shane Warne Foundation Bushfire Relief Fund, which is raising money for those families affected by the wildfires. Instead of using the buy ins to raise a prize pool, 888Poker is offering payouts and bounties to draw players to help with the cause.
The tournament, which begins at 8:30PM Australian time (roughly 9:30AM in London) on Sunday, will pay out the winner with a $500 prize. Second and third places will also earn cash, with $300 and $200 being paid out respectively. The remainder of the final table – places fourth through tenth – will earn an entry into the New Zealand Poker Championships Sunday Qualifier on March 1st, a seat that is worth $120.
888Poker will also have celebrity bounties that players can earn some extra cash through eliminating. 888 ambassadors Brendan Fevola (bfevola25) and Jeff Fenech (fenech888) will be taking part in the tournament and, for the fortunate player who eliminates them from the event, that player will receive a $50 bounty prize. While these prizes are great for the players, the major point will be in remembering the tragedy that occurred in Australia and raising funds for those families that have been affected. Jennifer Huxley, the spokesman for 888Poker, stated,
“888Poker is deeply saddened by the tragic events that have occurred and we hope this tournament will help in a small way those that have been affected.”
The fires, now under control after ravaging the bush areas of the state of Victoria since February 7th, have had a devastating impact on the Australian people as well as their resources. The wildfires, fanned by high winds and dry conditions, have blackened more than 1,500 square miles (3,900 square kilometers) and destroyed more than 1,800 homes. Most importantly, 201 people have perished from the fires, with the latest person killed a firefighter who was working to extinguish the blaze around the Yarra Ranges National Park, a region hit hard by the fires, on Tuesday. Brendan Solaluk, 39, is facing one count of deadly arson and one of lighting a wildfire in connection to one of hundreds of blazes that swept southern Victoria state around Geelong.
While American poker players cannot participate in the offerings of 888Poker, it is an opportunity for the game to once again show its philanthropic side. For more details on the tournament and to participate in The Bushfire Relief Charity Tournament, visit 888Poker to learn more.
