Bidding on 2008 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event champion Peter Eastgate’s bracelet has more than tripled since the eBay auction began and there is still about a week to go. Of particular interest to the auction are the statements by professional poker player Tony G, who has written on his blog that he will be the one to win it.
On his blog at PartyPoker yesterday, Tony G wrote that he is pursuing the purchase of Eastgate’s bracelet. “I have decided that I am going to buy Peter Eastgate’s WSOP Main Event winner’s bracelet,” Tony G writes to his fans. “It is currently trading at $16,500 on eBay and I am going to lead the bidding at $17,500. I don’t expect any further bids and, as I know, there are very few people with the heart and courage to challenge a determined Tony G.”
So what would Guoga’s plans be if he became the owner of the bracelet? “The plan is to get it adapted into a special collar for my trusted German Shepherd, Zasko,” Tony G stunningly states. “The ultimate dog bling – as my gladiator and protector, he deserves to be kitted out in such style.”
Surprisingly, Tony G’s ambition to use the WSOP bracelet as a dog collar has drawn little commentary from the poker community, perhaps due to the industry’s familiarity with the pro’s self-promotion. There are rumblings, however, that Tony G is still bugged by WSOP officials excluding from this year’s nine-man sit and go that sent Bertrand “Elky” Grospellier to the revived Tournament of Champions. Tony G insists through his blog, though, that he isn’t doing this as an insult to the game.
“People will accuse me of trying to make a mockery of Peter’s WSOP Main Event win, but that is not the intention,” he states. “I really want to do this. I respect Peter’s decision to turn around and say that’s it… Each to their own and hope that the money I give him for the bracelet goes to a good cause.”
Tony G’s plans may have hit a roadblock, however, as the bidding for the bracelet has become almost as contentious as the tournament that awarded it. Eastgate, who gave up poker earlier this year, had the bracelet appraised by a private jeweler for £10,000 (approximately $16,000) and the bidding began on Monday at that point. Over the span of two days, bids for the bracelet only inched up $700.
After Tony G’s announcement on Wednesday, the bidding price has skyrocketed. By the end of the day on Wednesday, 30 bids had been made on the bracelet, with the price escalating from $16,700 to $41,000. Eight additional bids have come in by press time on Thursday, bringing the total number of bids to 39 and upping the price of the bracelet to $45,100.
Eastgate is auctioning off his Main Event bracelet not because he is downtrodden, but rather as a charitable contribution to UNICEF. The auction is officially listed as a part of eBay’s Giving Works charitable program, with virtually all of the money raised going to UNICEF.
The organization, one of the United Nations’ longest running charitable causes, would use the funds to support child survival, protection, and development worldwide through education, advocacy, and fundraising. Most recently, the organization was in Haiti to provide relief from the massive earthquakes in the country earlier this year. It also supported those who were affected by the torrential flooding in Pakistan recently.