The 2008 Ante Up For Africa poker tournament takes place at the World Series of Poker at 2pm (PST) on Wednesday, July 2nd at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

Hosted by Don Cheadle and Annie Duke, this annual charity poker event hopes to raise money for victims of the crisis in the Darfur region of western Sudan. Four years of fighting have left 200,000 dead and forced 2.5 million people out of their homes to live in refugee camps in Chad and Sudan.

Last year’s event brought together dozens of Hollywood celebrities and poker pros and raised over $700,000.

Celebrities in attendance last year: Ben Affleck, Jason Alexander, Hank Azaria, Charles Barkley, Don Cheadle, Matt Damon, Shannon Elizabeth, Brad Garrett, Willie Garson, Cheryl Hines, Kevin James, Mekhi Phifer, Ray Romano, Adam Sandler, Kevin Smith, Martin Sheen, Donnie Wahlberg, Montel Williams.

Poker pros in attendance last year: Andy Bloch, Doyle Brunson, Miami John Cernuto, Annie Duke, Antonio Esfandiari, Chris Ferguson, Ted Forrest, Rafe Furst, Jamie Gold, Phil Gordon, Clonie Gowen, Barry Greenstein, Joe Hachem, Russ Hamilton, Jennifer Harman, Phil Hellmuth, Phil Ivey, Howard Lederer, Mike Matusow, Daniel Negreanu, Kevin O’Donnel, David Singer, Katja Thater, Robert Williamson III, Paul Wolfe, Steve Zolotow.

Please visit the Ante Up for Africa website to see how you can help.