PokerStars hosted the Stars CALL for Action celebrity tournament with $1 million donated to CARE International and various coronavirus charities. David Costabile, an actor most-known for his work on "Billions" and "The Wire", took down the tournament and won $100,000 for his chosen charity: World Central Kitchen. Also, at the final table were Douglas Costa, Jen Shahade, Casey Affleck, Chris Moneymaker, and Mike Tindall.
Ship it to Wags! The actor who plays Wags on "Billions" acted like a true virtual samurai, slicing and dicing his way to the final table... and then rising above the stiff competition to achieve online poker immortality... and raise money for a good cause in the same breath.
David Costabile won Stars CALL for Action charity tournament and the first place prize of $100,000 for World Central Kitchen, which helps feed people in need all over the planet.
Overall, PokerStars donated over $1 million to various charities including CARE International. Players at the final table would have their prizes donated to the charity of their choice. In addition, celebrities who won their shootout tables also banked $10,000 for charity as well.
So how did this charity tournament work? It was a hybrid system that included a general population pool of players and another separate pool of celebrities. They two would finally join forces at the final two tables (6-handed BTW).
The regular players played a traditional tournament and those final six advanced.
The celebrities played a shootout format. And the final six left standing would also advance to the final two tables.
The final two tables played out like a regular tournament.
Among the celebrities and well-known pros who participated in the celebrity side of the Stars Call for Action included... Aaron Paul, Mark Teixeira, Eric Bogosian, Martha Plimpton, Adam McKay, Erik Siedel, AJ McLean, Michael Cera, Amy Schumer, Michael Ian Black, Andre Akkari, Andy Bellin, Hank Azaria, Andy Frankenberger, Jack Black, Nate Silver, James L. Brooks, Asia Kate Dillon, Jason Alexander, Nene, Beanie Feldstein, Jeff Garlin, Neymar Jr, Ben Spragg, Jen Shahade, Pete Alonso, Bill Simmons, Billy Crudup, Jimmi Simpson, Ricardinho, Brad Garrett, JK Simmons, Ricky Williams, Brian Koppelman, Ron Darling, Bryan Cranston, Jon Hamm, Casey Affleck, Josh Charles, Teri Hatcher, Chris Moneymaker, Justin Long, Kevin Pollak, David Arquette, Tracy Letts, David Costabile, Lisa Kudrow, David Lee, Willie Garson, David Schwimmer, Lou Diamond Phillips, Don Cheadle, Douglas Costa, Macaulay Culkin, Edward Norton, and Maggie Gray
Hank Azaria and author Andy Bellin had been organizing a charity tournament for the DREAM Foundation, but then decided to join forces with PokerStars to help host an online event with everyone in lockdown.
"Andy and I had been planning to hold a big charity poker event in New York, the old-fashioned kind where people actually sat around a table and touched cards," Azaria told PokerStars Blog. "We realized right now it doesn't really make sense to do an event like that except for COVID relief."
"We've both been working really hard to think of how we can lend our various skill sets to helping people. Particularly, right now in a time where charitable giving has to be way down," Bellin told PSB.
The final table included Mike Tindall, Chris Moneymaker, Jen Shahade, Casey Affleck, Douglas Costa, and David Costabile. Moneymaker, one of the ringers at the final table, finished in fifth place. Chess champ, author, and poker pro Jen Shahade finished in third place, which was worth $40K to her charity. She got it all in with Ace-Queen against Costa's Ace-ten. Shahade rivered two pair but lost to Costa's Ace-high diamond four-flush.
Costabile picked off footie player Douglas Costa heads-up for the title when his pocket fours held up against Costa's 
. Costa earned $75K for charity, while Costabile won $100,000 for World Central Kitchen.
2020 Stars CALL for Action Charity Tournament
Final Table Results
1. David Costabile $100,000
2. Douglas Costa $75,000
3. Jennifer Shahade $40,000
4. Casey Affleck $30,000
5. Chris Moneymaker $20,000
6. Mike Tindall $10,000
Check out the highlights...
