Don Cheadle joins Full Tilt

Full Tilt Poker have just announced their partnership with international film star, charity fundraiser and activist Don Cheadle, welcoming him as a Friend of Full Tilt.

Don is co-founder of the Ante Up for Africa No-Limit Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Tournament alongside poker pro Annie Duke and their partner Norman Epstein. Organizers of the annual $ 5,000 buy-in tournament ask players to donate 50% of their winnings back to the charity which is distributed to organizations such as the “Enough Project”, “Not on Our Watch” and the “International Rescue Committee.”

The first Ante Up For Africa event took place in 2007 and saw over 170 celebrities and poker pros in attendance including Team Full Tilt’s Phil Ivey, Chris Ferguson, Andy Bloch, as well as film stars Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and many others. The third Ante Up for Africa is due to take place on July 2nd at 2pm in the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino during the 2009 World Series of Poker. In support, FullTiltPoker.com will be running a $ 5+$ 5 private charity tournament before the live event in which the $ 5 entry fee will go to the charity, date TBA.

To date, Ante Up for Africa has raised over $ 2 million in support of charities addressing the humanitarian crisis in Sudan.

Speaking about his own performance as a poker player, Don said, “I’ve done alright in the televised tourneys I’ve participated in (NBC Heads Up, Poker After Dark, Celebrity Shoot-Out) and I’ve won several tournaments around town. I have yet to play in the WSOP events, but I hope my schedule will permit me to do so in the future.”

In addition to his block buster films Oceans 11, 12 and 13, Don Cheadle has starred in the films Out of Sight, Reign Over Me, Crash and Hotel Rwanda, for which he was nominated for an Oscar. Don will also be seen in the sequel to Iron Man due out next year.