Everyone expects the professional poker players to do well in the World Series of Poker Main Event, but few would expect a non-poker celebrity to find success in the WSOP. However, several celebrities made their way deep into the Main Event which surprised fans and players alike. Here’s a quick look at the celebrities who had a successful WSOP Main Event run:
Lou Diamond Phillips
Phillips has been out of the limelight for a while as it’s been years since he starred in La Bamba, but the poker community definitely took notice of him after he went farther than any other non-poker celebrity in the Main Event. Some thought Lou even had a chance to win it all before he finally busted out in 186th place. For his excellent showing at the WSOP, Phillips received $36,600 which is more than almost 6,000 other players can say they received.
Jordan Farmar
Since Farmar had never even played Texas Hold’em before the 2009 Main Event, nobody expected the Los Angeles Lakers player to do anything. However, Farmar defied the odds and made it through almost 3 days of play before being knocked out of the tournament. This is quite an accomplishment for a true poker rookie! He must have had a few games with Lakers owner Jerry Buss.
Shane Warne
This former international cricket star showed that he has a presence on the poker table too as he was also able to make it to the third day of play in the Main Event. Unfortunately, Warne’s flush was topped by a full house which is truly a bad beat for someone who was looking to double up on a great hand.
Jason Alexander
Alexander used his experience from TV shows like NBC’s Heads-up Championship to perform the same feat as Warne and Farmar in making it to the third day of the WSOP. Jason, who is best known for his days as George Constanza on “Seinfeld”, will no doubt be back next year looking for a strong tournament run.
