WPT Ladies Night to Benefit Breast Cancer Research

Prize money will not be the only cash doled out when The Bicycle Casino in Bell Gardens, California, hosts the World Poker Tour (WPT) Ladies Night III on August 31. The tournament will also be a platform to bring attention to breast cancer research and will be donating a portion of the buy-ins to the cause.

Before the actual invitation-only tournament, there will be a qualifying charity event dubbed the “Ladies’ Poker Party” with a meager $125 buy-in. $15 of this will be donated to breast cancer research. The winner will move on to the WPT Ladies Night III event.

In addition to the qualifier from the night before, the field for the single-table Ladies Night III tournament is as follows:

• Isabelle Mercier -- defending champion
• Jennifer Tilly -- actress and WSOP bracelet winner
• Marsha Waggoner -- “The Grand Dame of Poker”
• Cecilia Reyes – wife of Carlos Mortensen and 4th at 2005 WSOP Ladies Event
• Aidily Elviro – wife of Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi

The last woman standing wins not only a $25,500 seat at the WPT Championship, but also a WPT pink ribbon poker set and $10,000 donation in her name to breast cancer research.

Other celebrities that are slated to be involved in the Ladies Poker Party charity tournament are Shannon Elizabeth, Sarah Rue, and Jennifer Parker.

Originally published August 15, 2005