Las Vegas Weekly

November 11, 2008 · 11:22 AM

TV and sports stars take part in Dream Team Poker at Hard Rock

By Robin Leach

Holly Montag.

Photo: Dream Team Gaming

In normal casino poker tournaments, it’s head-to-head individual showdowns, but at the Hard Rock, they’ve come up with a totally new spin on the challenge by introducing Dream Team Poker -- with three players competing at a time! Thus if one goes, two labor on. If two go, there’s still hope with one remaining!

Photo: Dream Team Gaming

Roger Cross.

While the World Series of Poker was down to the November Nine over at The Rio, the Hard Rock, not to be outdone, was busy introducing the debut Dream Team Poker tournament. Whereas at WSOP, the players sat down in July and wrapped up today, Dream Team got all the action in a two-day weekend!

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna / www.erikkabikphoto.com

Mekhi Phifer.

It began with TV stars Mekhi Phifer from NBC’s ER, Roger Cross from Kiefer Sutherland’s 24, Holly Montag of MTV’s The Hills, Knight Rider’s Yancey Arias, former NBA star Chris Mills and The Simpsons writer-producer Sam Simon. Poker players included Jean-Robert Bellande, who was on CBS’ Survivor: China, 2006 WSOP main event champion Jamie Gold; Erica Schoenberg, self-proclaimed poker babe from Poker After Dark; and 2008 WSOP bracelet winners David Daneshgar and Kenny Tran.

Photo: Dream Team Gaming

Jean-Robert Bellande.

It was all kicked off with a private penthouse party at the Hard Rock hosted by Dream Team Gaming executive Edward Fishman; Larry Cohen, former CEO of Merv Griffin’s The Griffin Group; Jimmy Delshad, former mayor of Beverly Hills; and Dream Team co-founders Daniel Delshad, Mario Ayala and Homan Serfaradi.

Photo: KirvinDoak Communications

Team Winners Bluff Magazine: Eric Morris, Matthew Parvis and Justin Bonomo.

Photo: KirvinDoak Communications

The Dream Team tournament individual winner.

Then the first day’s play got underway and ended with a party at Body English, where DJ Paul from Three 6 Mafia gave a surprise performance of his hit “Lolli Lolli (Pop That Body).” Enjoying his show were NFL players Keenan McCardell, Tank Johnson and Keith Davis. Off in the exclusive Body English parlor sharing a VIP table was Holly Montag and Chris Mills!

The final two tables started on the second day with Jamie Gold, Jean-Robert Bellande, Holly Montag and Yancey Arias. Eventually the only celebrity, Bellande made it to the final table and came in third place. The Bluff Magazine team of Eric Morris, Matthew Parvis and Justin Bonomo won first place, and Jason Lilley from the Flop Team won first place individually.

Photo: Hard Rock Hotel

DJ Paul of Three 6 Mafia at Body English.

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