In 2006 Annie Duke, actor Don Cheadle and Norman Epstein set up a non profit organisation called Ante Up For Africa. The aim of this venture is to provide funding to charities who deal with the crisis in Darfur, Sudan.

The events in the region revolve around ethnic and tribal conflicts which have resulted in 400,000 deaths and 4m people living in squalor at the Sudan boarder. The USA has taken action by making talks to do the Sudanese government and the International Criminal Court has started indicting many top Sudanese officials.

Ante Up For Africa revolves around No Limit Hold'em tournaments which sees most pros giving their winnings back to the organisers to give to charity. In 2007 at the Rio, $400,000 was given back by the top two players and in 2008 John Hennigan gave his entire prize back too.

At the WSOPE, a small 2 table Ante Up For Africa event was organised and had many great players taking part, including Phil Hellmuth, Erik Seidel, Howard Lederer and Andy Bloch. In one hand Dave Ulliot was all in against Chris Fegruson, with Dave holding AJ and beating Fergusons A4.

Speaking after her exit on her 4th hand, Annie Duke was looking forward to spending time with an old friend so was not worried about her exit from her own event, stating it was a win/win situation anyway ‘Tonight is not about playing well, its about dealing with a crisis that really needs some attention.'

Ed* To learn more, or to donate, please look at the charity website Save Darfur.