Fifth annual WPT invitational won by amateur
An amateur poker player has won the fifth annual World Poker Tour (WPT) invitational event in Los Angeles, coming through the ranks to triumph in a field that featured numerous celebrity competitors.
The likes of James Woods, Mena Suvari, Jon Favreau, Hank Azaria and Vince Vaughn all took part in the event, but it was amateur Adam Weinraub who eventually walked away with $100,000.
Weinraub continued his admirable philanthropy, which had begun when he successfully bid for a seat at the event at an auction to benefit the Susan G Komen foundation, by donating a further $20,000 to the cause and promising to add 20 per cent of his winnings at the WPT World Championship, an event for which he now qualifies.
The final table was of great interest to observers as it featured two Hollywood faces in the shape of The Notebook director, and son of famous director John, Nick Cassavetes, as well as 24 star Glenn Morshower.
Paris and Nicky Hilton also played at the event, which eventually saw poker pro John Cernuto lose out to Weinraub in the final hands.