Las Vegas Weekly

April 30, 2009 · 8:02 AM

Photo Gallery: Poker pros go to the dogs and donate big dollars in tournament

By Robin Leach

Annie Duke and Karina Smirnoff on the red carpet at The Venetian.

Photo: The Venetian

More than 120 poker enthusiasts joined professional player Jennifer Harman for the third year of her charity poker tournament for the Nevada Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and raised more than $130,000 for the cause. Poker stars participating include Daniel Negreanu, Phil Hellmuth, Phil Ivey, Barry Greenstein, Lacey Jones, Layne Flack and Annie Duke, who is the center of a raging Celebrity Apprentice feud with Joan Rivers and daughter Melissa!

Dancing With the Stars professional Karina Smirnoff turned up to help support the NSPCA event. Actress Nancy Cartwright, who is the voice of Bart Simpson, conducted a live auction where Daniel Negreanu bid big bucks to win a date with model and colleague Lacey! He also purchased a private jet ride for himself and four friends, and with Annie and Layne bought pricy cupcakes to add to the donations! The Venetian gifted the final nine players with gift certificates to Blue Man Group, Phantom -- the Las Vegas Spectacular and Wayne Brady.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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