Breast Cancer Alliance hosted its second Livestream Celebrity Poker Tournament.
In partnership with Faded Spade and the Woman's Poker Association, with media sponsor Westchester and Fairfield County Business Journals, the event attracted some of the world's top poker players and most celebrated commentators. The winner, world champion Chris Moneymaker, known for revolutionizing the game with his "Moneymaker Effect" said "I enjoy helping charities and with the pandemic it has been difficult to go out and support many in person.
The online Breast Cancer Alliance tournament enabled me to help from the safety of my home and I will say that almost everyone knows someone touched by breast cancer and how it can upend lives."
Tournament Host Jamie Kerstetter, professional poker player, ESPN commentator, podcast host and Twitter Personality of the Year winner, was joined as in the evening's commentary by Yonni Wattenmaker, Executive Director of Breast Cancer Alliance and Tara Windsor Smith, Vice President Women's Poker Association and Faded Spade. Famous guests and pro poker stars stopped by to offer stories and tips as well: Jennifer Shahade, host of two award winning podcasts, the Poker Grid and Ladies Knight and a two-time US Women's Chess Campion, Jessie Sylvia, runner up in the World Series of Poker Main Event for $5M and Dan Smith, one of the highest earning poker players of all time and organizer the annual Double Up Drive for charity.
Ms. Wattenmaker shared "Breast Cancer Alliance works tirelessly, even during COVID-19, to improve survival rates and quality of life for those impacted by breast cancer. Among the difficulties this pandemic brings, patients are living with heightened anxiety and greater barriers to care, and critical research has faced challenging delays. Events like this broaden awareness of the important work of BCA and help to raise critical funds to support continued advancement of the field."