Bad Beat on Cancer Challenge Helps Raise Breast Cancer Awareness

We are pleased to report that the PokerNews-sponsored Bad Beat on Cancer Poker Challenge found an audience as 173 players took to the virtual felt to help raise money for the Prevent Cancer Foundation, a nonprofit group whose mission is to help with cancer prevention and early detection through research, education and community outreach. The $10 buy-in tournament raised over $3,500 for the worthwhile organization through buy-ins, rebuys and add-ons.

According to PokerNews senior writer and event organizer Michael Friedman, the turnout is a great start for what he hopes will become an annual event. "I couldn't have been happier with the event attendance. We had players from all over the world play to help make a difference in the lives of others. For a first-time event, I think we did pretty well. The next time around, even more people will get involved to raise more money."

Thanks to the Internet, players from all over signed up for this unique charity event on PokerStars. They played from Winnipeg, Brazil, Las Vegas, Montreal, Los Angeles, Melbourne and perhaps the most unfamiliar location, Tartu (It's in Estonia.).

There was plenty of exciting action along the way as players fought for their share of the prize pool, which together was worth over $24,000. It took a while for the prize bubble to break, but once it did, the field started dropping like flies as players tried to move into to position to nab a prize.

In the end, the action narrowed to a heads-up battle between "5_DARE_5" and "dlallstar80". In the battle between the U.S. resident and the Canadian dlallstar80, the chip lead was exchanged several time as both players made monster comebacks. In the end, dlallstar80's luck ran out when he pushed into 5_DARE_5's pocket queens. The board bricked and 5_DARE_5 emerged victorious after nine hours of play to claim the first-place prize of a lifetime subscription to poker training site DeucesCracked.com.

We thank all of the celebrities, poker pros and others in the industry for their participation and support, and most of all, we thank Nicole Rowe; without her inspiration, this event might not have taken place.

This tournament got groups from Card Player, Bluff, PokerListings, PokerNews, PokerRoad and several other sites to help spread the news.

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