Large Pots Generous Hearts, Hold'Em 100

Beginning in 1995 Conrad Brunner organized a group of poker players to start a charity tournament which was expected to attract 100 players, titled 'Hold'em 100', it got 104. "A 100-player tournament was a really big deal back then," said Brunner. "We didn't think we would get enough players but kicked off the first event with 104 runners. That made it the UK's biggest ever tournament at the time."

The event is to aid of the Royal Marsden Cancer Fund, one of the UK's leading cancer treatment and research hospitals. The tournament is in its 12th year and has raised over 100,000 GBP. "People don't believe poker players are generous, but every year we see them splashing out extravagantly on the re-buys, knowing the cash is going to a very good cause," Brunner said. Any profit from the tournament is split between the hospital's research work and practical patient care.

The 2007 'Hold'em 100' starts this Sunday, the 23rd of September, at the Loose Cannon Sports Bar in London. Poker player Gavin Griffin, a cancer activist, has been invited as a guest of honor. Griffin and his girlfriend Kristen have done a great deal of work to raise cancer awareness and money, memorably included was dying Gavins hair pink, in recognition of the 'pink ribbon' campaign.

The buy-in to the tournament is 50 GBP and is designed to have unlimited re-buys to maximize potential donations. Pokerstars is the official sponsors of the event and with the London EPT just round the corner, history making poker stars like Chris Moneymaker, Daniel Negreanu and Katja Thater are expected to compete and raise money.

Pokerstars have added to the excitement by gifting a 5,400 GBP place in the EPT London for the ultimate winner of the tournament. "This generous donation means that - as well as getting a chance to sit next to some major stars for an initial buy-in of only 50 GBP, players have an even more valuable target to aim for," Brunner elaborated.