LIPS Lord Griffon of Las Vegas wins team Poker Throw Down competition, with Matt Vinks of Martinez, California taking home overall individual prize.
On Saturday, 21 May, HPT filmed the most exciting team and individual poker competition for television. Poker pros, Hollywood celebrities, Olympic and MMA athletes, and industry VIPs made the trek to Reno, descending on the Peppermill Resort Hotel & Casino for the fifth annual Jennifer Harman Charity Poker
Tournament (JHCPT) benefiting the Nevada Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Nevada SPCA). The tournament featuring the Poker Throw Down team and individual format was sponsored by Reno Peppermill, Rockwell Time, Grrrinders.com, Konami, IGT, Nike, ProSource, and Lord Griffon, and raised more than $100,000 for the charity.
Notable poker pro participants included Jennifer Harman, Daniel Negreanu, Annie Duke, Andy Bloch, Layne Flack, Jamie Gold, Tom Marchese, David Chicotsky, Jerry Yang, Jeff Madsen, Men Nguyen, Mark Kroon, Gary DeBarnardi, Dennis Phillips, Darvin Moon, Antonio Esfandiari, Lee Markholt, Kathy Liebert, Joanne “JJ” Liu, Bryan Devonshire, James Van Alstyne, and Jon Friedberg. Notable celebrities included Julie Benz, Lou Diamond Phillips, Robert Jayne, Chauncey Leopardi, Yancey Arias, Christopher Ashworth, Adrian Paul,
Mekhi Phifer, Jason Chambers, Jennifer Elise Cox, Dori Rosenthal, AJ Lamas, Dennis Haskins, Samantha Ryan, Liz Friedman, Paulo Benedetti, and Nicholas Gonzalez. Industry VIPs included “AlCantHang,” HPT’s Chris Hanson, HPT’s Fred Bevill and Jaymz Larson, Lizzy Harrison, Anjela Brunson, Kevin “Kevmath” Mathers, Linda Johnson, Jan Fisher, and 2008 JHCPT Champion Seth Dupree. Notable athletes included Ross Powers, Nate Holland, and Mason Aguirre.
Sporting custom branded jerseys, 25 spirited teams from all across the southwest entered Peppermill’s
Tuscany Event Center and walked the red carpet directed by Miller/Brown Productions and hosted by poker media personalities Melissa Castello and Eddy Sebat. Escorted by celebrity captains and companion animals, teams posed for complimentary photos courtesy Rob Gracie of GreasieWheels. Pacific Auction Company hosted a giant silent auction and the Nevada SPCA raised additional funds through its retail center.
The tournament, emceed by Alex Outhred and George Kozel, commenced at 1PM
and was directed by David Lamb. Following three re-buy and add-on periods, Robert “Mr. Omaha” Williamson III led a live auction featuring an autographed guitar donated by Sir Elton John and his band. A total of 568 tournament participants competed for individual prizes, along with more than 500 pot sweeteners, bounties, and giveaways courtesy Grrrinders.com, Frends, FullTilt, NIke, Lakeside Inn, and Lucky’s Barbershop. All participants received a Nike backpack tote.
By 8:15PM, play had reached the final table. The top ten finishers were Matt Vinks from Martinez, Joe Tehan of Las Vegas, Debbie Espe of Dallas, Jim Bradley and Lance Donnel of Reno, Kathy Stahl of San Ramon, Rob Arcania, Andrew Barber, and Emilio Porcalla of Sacramento, Mike LaBarbera of San Jose, Jerry Yang of Madera, and Paris Justice.
Each were awarded $1,650 Nevada State Championship HPT televised Main Event seats, Grrrinders.com Gold subscriptions, and sports watches courtesy Rockwell Time. The total value of final table product and service prizes exceeded
$61,000.
Barber, Yang, LaBarbera, Arcania, Stahl, Donnel,
and Bradley went out in tenth through fourth places respectfully. Debbie Espe was the next to be eliminated, winning “Last Woman Standing” prizes, including a silver and gemstone necklace courtesy Lord Griffon Jewelry and a Ladies of Poker Wear gift basket. In heads up action, Matt Vinks of Martinez eliminated poker pro Joe Tehan of Las Vegas for the
win. In addition to Rockwell Time watches valued at $3,500 apiece and HPT Main Event Seats, Tehan and Vick were each awarded silver and gemstone custom designed Lord Griffon bracelets. Vick’s individual participant grand prize included a Grrrinders.com Diamond membership, a $3,000 L.A. Racing VIP Experience for six persons, a giant
illuminated sculpture courtesy Black Tai Salt Co., and Lou Gehrig limited edition art valued at $800.
Following the tournament, players, teams, and celebrities gathered for the third annual Poker Throw Down party inside Peppermill’s Terrace Lounge featuring live entertainment and complimentary cocktails. Casino General Manager George Kisler was master of ceremonies. Overall individual winner Matt Vinks posed before a packed crowd with his crystal trophy created by Seaena.
Bronze medals and the third place crystal team trophy went to Players Club Casino of Ventura, California, owned by Bill Kracht and led by celebrity team captain Joe Tehan. Silver team medals and the second place crystal team trophy went to Lucky’s Mens Club & Barber Shop
owned by Aaron Ralls and led by an elated Jennifer Elise Cox. LIPS Lord Griffon Two owned by Lupe Soto and led by celebrity captain Joanne “JJ” Liu was crowned the 2011 Poker Throw Down team champions, receiving gold medals and the first place crystal team trophy. Members of all three winning teams will receive Grrrinders.com memberships and FullTilt duffles. The
LIPS Lord Griffon Two team champions will receive the “Pro For A Day” grand prize and have its team photo published in the next issue of Ante Up Magazine.
This fall, selected segments of the JHCPT Poker Throw Down will be included in HPT’s national television programming, available in over 100 million homes across America, on a syndicated network including DIRECTV and Dish Network stations.
Additional JHCPT in-kind donators included Rockwell Time, Lord Griffon, www.ProSourcePromos.com, www.Grrrinders.com, Guice Energy Gum, Custom Jewelry by Nancy Humphrey, Scentsy, Buddha Balm, Body Essentials, Calico Dragon, EatStrong, Quad Queens, Happy House, World Series of Barbecue, Poker Players Alliance (PPA), MyExpressFreight.com, Frends, ProSource, Players Club Casino, Lakeside Inn, Lucky’s Mens Club & Barbershop, and GreasieWheels. All proceeds benefited the Nevada SPCA.
The 2011 Poker Throw Down is a GreasieWheels production. Complimentary photos are available for viewing and download by visiting www.GWphotostore.com.
For more information, ways you can help, or to make a donation, visit http://www.nevadaspca.org.
Read AlCantHang and Lizzy Harrison's entertaining account of events by clicking here.
