WSOP chip leader doing it for a cause.

News / nono / 18 September 2008 / Leave a comment

The final table of the World Series of Poker Main Event does not get started until November but one player has already started to make plans on what to do with his money, and it may well garner him the neutral support, writes Rob Eddy.

Out of the goodness of his heart, 53-year-old account manager Dennis Phillips has promised to donate one percent of which ever prize he is good enough to win in Las Vegas to Prevent Cancer Foundation's "Bad Beat on Cancer" fundraiser.

"I am thrilled to contribute a portion of my WSOP earnings to the Prevent Cancer Foundation," Phillips said. "Charity involvement has always been an important part of my life, and hopefully more poker players and final table participants with follow suit in upcoming poker circuits like the European Poker Tour."

The fundraiser began in 2003 with organisers asking their poker-playing friends to pledge 1% of their cash at the WSOP Championship Event as a tax-deductible donation and it has grown from there.

Phillips, who is also active with a number of multiple sclerosis charities, will start the 'November Nine' in the box seat as he is the chip leader with 26,295,000 and is currently trading as the favourite on Betfair to maintain that position and land the gold bracelet, as well as the top prize of $9,119,517.

That would of course provide the cancer fundraiser with a not-too-shabby donation as well, and it could certainly get the spectators on his side when play resumes this autumn.

Chris Moneymaker, the 2003 WSOP champion, for one is certainly backing the man from St Louis, Phillips, to go all the way.

"Dennis Phillips is a stand-up guy who brings a positive feeling to the WSOP final table," Moneymaker said.

"Most guys get to the final table and just see a big pile of money and a new life. Dennis is just happy to be playing poker and sees an opportunity to help others. His efforts are inspiring to the poker community and I'm excited to see how it all turns out in November."