Stars CALL For Action powered by PokerStars - Charity Tournament
Day 1 Completed
Stars CALL For Action powered by PokerStars - Charity Tournament
Stars CALL For Action powered by PokerStars - Charity Tournament
Day: 1
Breaking Bad & Billions Actor David Costabile Wins Stars CALL For Action powered by PokerStars - Charity Tournament
On Saturday, PokerStars played host to the “Stars Call for Action” charity event and saw David Costabile, who played Gale Boetticher on Breaking Bad, defeat a field chock full of A-list celebrities – including co-stars Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul – to win $100,000 to donate to World Central Kitchen, a charity that supplies food to those who most need it.
Just for participating in the tournament, which was organized by Hank Azaria and Andy Bellin, $10,000 was donated to charity on behalf of each celebrity. The final six then received bonuses for their respective charities.
Among those celebs to participate were Amy Schumer, Michael Cera, Jon Hamm, Neymar Jr., Don Cheadle, Jeff Garlin, David Schwimmer, Edward Norton, Macaulay Culkin, Lisa Kudrow, Teri Hatcher, Kevin Pollak, David Arquette, Liam Payne, Ricky Williams, Jack Black, and Jason Alexander, among many more.
In the end, the title came down to Costabile and Brazilian footballer Douglas Costa, who entered heads-up play with a big chip lead. Even so, Costabile, who currently plays Mike “Wags” Wagner on Showtime’s hit show Billions, scored a couple of doubles to take the lead and then won a race with pocket fours against Big Slick suited to close things out.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | David Costabile | $100,000 |
| 2 | Douglas Costa | $75,000 |
| 3 | Jen Shahade | $40,000 |
| 4 | Casey Affleck | $30,000 |
| 5 | Chris Moneymaker | $20,000 |
| 6 | “TheLordLord | $15,000 |
The celebrities played to raise funds for relief efforts during the current global pandemic crisis. PokerStars donated $1 million to the prize pool, half of which went to Care International. The other half, including donations from fans, is slated to be distributed via grants to charities and will be administered by the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), a Charity Navigator Four-Star Charity that meets all 20 BBB Charity Standards.
The tournament was played in phases that saw celebrity participants duke it out in a series of 6-max shootout tables. The winners from each then advanced to the 23-player finale where they were joined by six “regular” players who won their way in via an invite-only “Players Tournament.” They included Nick “OP-Poker Nick” Walsh, “pienososas,” Arlie “Prince Pablo” Shaban, “Raksha26,” “Supafuz,” and Felix “xflixx” Schneiders.
Additionally, the celebrities that finished second at their shootout tables were invited to a special “Second Chance” tournament where the winner was awarded $50,000 to donate to charity. English footballer Wayne Bridge wound up winning that tournament to close out a fun day of festivities.
Douglas Costa Eliminated in 2nd Place ($75,000); David Costabile Wins for $100,000
Blinds: 5,000/10,000/1,000
David Costabile just authored a fast and brutal comeback to defeat Douglas Costa.
After a series of all-in wagers by both players went uncalled, Costa finally shoved for about 190,000 with 
and was called when Costabile woke up with 
. The board ran 
and Costabile doubled with two pair.
Shortly after, Costa shoved on the button for about 400,000 and Costabile called with 
. Costa had 
and needed help. He found some on the 
flop, picking up a pair and a flush draw, but the 
turn gave Costabile a full house. He secured a double on the 
river and moved into the lead.
Costabile then shoved on the button with 
and Costa found 
to call. The flip went to Costabile as the board ran 
, failing to pair Costa.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
1,150,000 | 1,000,000 |
|
|
Busted |
Jen Shahade Eliminated in 3rd Place ($40,000)
With the blinds at 5,000/10,000/1,000, Jen Shahade raised to 20,000 on the button and Douglas Costa three-bet to 30,000 from the big blind. Shahade pushed back with a four-bet to 80,000 and Costa five-bet jammed for 557,622. Shahade called off for over 400K and was in a prime spot to double big.
Jen Shahade: 
Douglas Costa: 
Shahade had the superior ace but the 
flop made things interesting by giving Costa a diamond flush draw. He hit it straight away when the 
spiked on the turn to lock up the hand.
Shahade was drawing dead and watched helplessly as the meaningless was run out on the river. The PokerStars Ambassador received an additional $40,000 to donate to the charity of her choice thanks to her third-place finish.
Costa now takes a commanding chip lead into heads-up play against David Costabile.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
990,000 | 428,000 |
|
|
150,000 | -103,425 |
|
Busted |
Casey Affleck Eliminated in 4th Place ($30,000)
Casey Affleck limped under the gun and Douglas Costa just jammed with a covering stack in the big blind. Affleck called with 
but needed help against .
The 
closed off an out for Affleck, and the and were both worthless bricks from his perspective.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
562,000 | 150,093 |
|
|
Busted |
Chris Moneymaker Eliminated in 5th Place ($20,000)
Chris Moneymaker shoved his last 37,000 in second to act after Casey Affleck limped. Everyone else folded and Affleck called with 
but was well behind 
. The 
flop brought some chopping outs for Affleck but he was in line for the whole pot after the 
turn. A on the river changed nothing, dooming Moneymaker.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
156,000 | 43,500 |
|
Busted |
"TheLordLord" Eliminated in 6th Place ($15,000)
With 
on the board, Jen Shahade bet 36,000 and "TheLordLord" shove for just over 80,000. Shahade called with 
and was dominating 
. The river didn't bring the jack that TheLordLord needed and he or she bowed out first at the final table, earning $15,000 for their charity.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
325,000 | 114,177 |
|
|
Busted |
Final Table Counts (full)
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
411,907 | 108,907 |
|
|
253,425 | 182,400 |
|
|
210,823 | -5,177 |
|
|
112,500 | 52,500 |
|
|
111,330 | 55,400 |
|
|
50,015 | -161,250 |
Breaking Bad's Bryan Cranston Bubbles Final Table
With the blinds at 4,000/8,000/800, Bryan Cranston was all in preflop for 114K and at risk against Douglas Costa.
Bryan Cranston: 
Douglas Costa:
It was a bad spot for Cranston and he didn't get much help on the 
flop. The turn gave Cranston a spade flush draw, but it didn't come in as the 
bricked on the river.
With that, Cranston bowed out in seventh place, good for $10,000 towards charity, while the final six players combined down to the final table.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
Busted |
Michael Ian Black Done in 8th Place By Chris Moneymaker
Michael Ian Black was all in preflop for his last 35,000 or so and at risk against Chris Moneymaker.
Michael Ian Black:
Chris Moneymaker:
Moneymaker was out in front and he stayed there as the board ran out a clean 
.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
211,265 | -735 |
|
|
Busted |