It's not every day that you see a host of film stars sat around a PokerStars table. This was a very special event. George Clooney, Andy Garcia, Matt Damon and Brad Pitt were amongst the stars visiting Cannes for the premier of Ocean's 13, they all found time to sign a PokerStars' poker baize and DVD copies of their movie. These are to be the special prizes in PokerStars third Ocean's 13 Charity Tournament.


Producer Jerry Weintraub with stars of Ocean's 13 Scott Caan, Don Cheadle, Ellen Barkin, Elliott Gould, George Clooney, Andy Garcia, Matt Damon and Brad Pitt.
Team PokerStars' 2005 World Champion Joe Hachem was on hand to offer poker tips to the stars. Don Cheadle and Matt Damon turned up early to chat about the game with Joe. The cast and crew of the movie are apparently all keen poker players, they even had a poker room built on the movie lot to entertain themselves when they weren't shooting. But this gathering wasn't just about the poker...

Producer Jerry Weintraub, together with George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Don Cheadle, have together launched the charity Not On Our Watch to help raise awareness of the suffering in Darfur, the western region of Sudan, Africa.

Hundreds of thousands of people have lost their lives due to the ongoing instability in the Darfur region, and millions more have been displaced and are reliant on international aid for their survival.

It's a situation that requires help fast. And that's exactly what PokerStars and its players have provided. First, PokerStars donated $1 million to the charity. Then it ran two charity tournaments to raise further aid for the region.

PokerStars players' efforts have been fantastic so far. And, for their charitable efforts, eight of the players, with guests, have attended the 'Ocean's 13' premieres in both Cannes and Los Angeles.


Andy Garcia, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, and George Clooney sign the baize.
The prize for the third 'Ocean's 13 Charity Tournament' is this unique poker baize, signed by the cast of the film, and framed for display. Details of the tournament are yet to be finalised, but I hope you'll take part, that baize would create quite a stir at your home game!