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Isabelle Mercier Wins Ante Up for Africa Europe

On April 23rd, 2009, the stars were out in full force last night in Monte Carlo, Monaco raising more than 260,000 euros during the first ever PokerStars.net Ante Up for Africa Europe. The big winner from the tournament is Ante Up for Africa and its charitable efforts in Darfur, but it was PokerStars poker pro Isabelle Mercier who won the event.

She edge out a final table full of poker player and a tough group of Hollywood celebrities as well as facing English footballer Teddy Sheringham for the title. Mercier said that she was happy that she was able to help raise money for the charitable efforts in Africa. Hosted by PokerStars.net, the event attracted around forty players and celebrities like Nelly, Joel Madden, Christina Millan, James Kyson Lee and others.

Some of the athletes who have participated in the event are F1 racing driver Nico Rosberg, goalkeeper Pepe Reina from Liverpool and rugby players Sebastien Chabal and Mike Tindall. Some of the poker players in the tournament included PokerStars' own team members like Daniel Negreanu, Peter Eastgate and Greg Raymer.

They all anted up 4,000 euros for the buy-in cost for a total of 160,000 euros to which PokerStars will add another 100,000 euros. The final table includes Dario Minieri with 43,400 chips, John Duthie with 39,000 chips, Patrick Chene with 20,100 chips, Sebastian Chabal with 20,300 chips, Luca Pagano with 41,500 chips, Tony G with 18,200, Daniel Negreanu with 151,000 chips, Teddy Sheringham with 44,900 chips and Isabelle Mercier with 42,700 chips.

Daniel Negreanu had a significant lead going into the final table but his chips slowly melted away as he finished in 5th place. Chabal, Duthie, Chene and Pagano fell out of the final table before Negreanu. Tony G. did not last long after Negreanu.

Finally, Minieri was edged out by Sheringham who faced Isabelle Mercier in the heads-up showdown with a three-one chip advantage. But Mercier battled back, finally snatching the lead and the win. Sheringham won the tournament cash prize, a trip to the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure in the Bahamas in January.

05/03/2009, Sunday
Todd Sanders

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