On Wednesday night, September 3rd, all eyes in the poker world will be focused squarely on Minneapolis, Minnesota, the site of the 2008 Republican National Convention (RNC). John McCain, the Republican nominee for President of the United States, made waves on Friday by announcing that first-term Alaska Governor Sarah Palin would be his running mate. McCain will formally accept his nomination this week at the RNC, which begins on Monday. On Wednesday, the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), in conjunction with the American Gaming Association, will hold a charity poker tournament benefiting the Paralyzed Veterans of America.
Confirmed for the event are PokerStars pros Greg Raymer and Victor Ramdin, two of the most successful poker pros in the business. Raymer won the 2004 World Series of Poker Main Event in only his second WSOP cash. He pocketed an enormous $5 million payday, at the time the largest sum of money ever given to a bracelet winner. He made one final table in 2005 and 2006; Raymer also had a pair of WSOP final tables in 2007. His lone cash in the 2008 WSOP came by virtue of finishing 11th in the $2,500 buy-in Limit 2-7 Triple Draw Lowball tournament (Event #40), which was ultimately won by John “The Razor” Phan.
Ramdin made his first WSOP cash in 2003 and reached the final table of the $1,500 HORSE event this year. He finished 64th in the 2008 Main Event, banking $96,500. On the World Poker Tour, Ramdin defeated a final table that included Greg Mueller and Tom Schneider to win the World Poker Challenge during Season IV, taking home $1,357,389. The following month, he took 11th in the WPT Championship and cashed for $146,460.
Also in attendance will be poker pro Chris “Fox” Wallace, who is a leading instructor at the poker training site PokerXFactor. Wallace, along with Eric “sheets” Haber and Cliff “JohnnyBax” Josephy, have taught many of today’s online stars how to excel in poker. Wallace told Poker News Daily that three-time WSOP bracelet winner Barry Greenstein will also be in attendance in Minneapolis. Greenstein emerged victorious in the Seven Card Razz tournament during this year’s WSOP for his latest bracelet.
The PPA expects 125 players in the charity poker tournament and more than 200 total attendees at the event, which takes place on Wednesday night at 116 First Avenue North in Minneapolis. A VIP reception will be held from 10:00pm to 10:30pm, when the tournament will kick off. All of the proceeds will be donated to the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), which was the beneficiary of money raised at the PPA’s function at the Democratic National Convention last week; over $60,000 was raised.
The ultimate goal of the poker tournament, besides raising money for a worthwhile charity, is to create goodwill among Republican members of Congress. Republican Senator Majority Leader Bill Frist was instrumental in pushing the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act through Congress in 2006.
The only way for players to enter the Minneapolis fundraiser is through purchasing one of four sponsorships:
- Royal Flush Sponsor ($10,000): Eight playing seats plus four spectator seats during the tournament
- Full House Sponsor ($5,000): Four playing seats plus two spectator seats during the tournament
- Individual Player Seat ($1,000): One seat at a poker table
- Individual Spectator Seat ($250): One Spectator seat during the tournament
All parties interested in the RNC event are urged to contact NicholeK@pva.org.