World Series of Poker Chip Leader Pledges to Put a Bad Beat On Cancer

Dennis Phillips, the current 2008 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event chip leader, will donate 1 percent of his tournament winnings to Prevent Cancer Foundation's "Bad Beat on Cancer" fundraiser after the Final Table event in November. PokerStars.net will match Phillips' donation to the Foundation dollar-for-dollar. As the first place payout is $9,119,517, the donation could tally $182,000 if Dennis takes the Main Event.

"I am thrilled to contribute a portion of my WSOP earnings to the Prevent Cancer Foundation," said Phillips. "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 and the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure."

In addition to his involvement with the Prevent Cancer Foundation, Phillips is active with a number of multiple sclerosis charities- an effort he has been a part of since his brother was diagnosed with the disease. PokerStars also remains steadfast in its commitment to philanthropic endeavors. They recently donated $51,000 to the Kentucky Hemophilia Foundation and gave Donald Hobbs, a young man afflicted with the disease, a chance to play in the WSOP Main Event alongside his friend and poker idol, 2003 WSOP Champion and Team PokerStars Pro Chris Moneymaker.

"Dennis Phillips is a stand-up guy who brings a positive feeling to the WSOP final table," said Chris Moneymaker, 2003 WSOP Champion and Team PokerStars Pro. "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."

The Bad Beat on Cancer fundraiser started in 2003 as a drive to help fund cancer research and prevention. Organizers asked their friends in the poker community to pledge just 1 percent of their winnings at the WSOP Championship Event to Prevent Cancer Foundation (formerly The Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation) as a tax-deductible donation. Since 2003, the Bad Beat on Cancer initiative has grown to include other major poker tournaments, home games, leagues, and inspired some players to pledge for life. Phillips continues the tradition in 2008.

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