Breaking Bad Actor David Costabile Wins ‘Stars CALL For Action’ Charity Tournament

The international poker community has been making laudable contributions towards COVID-19 relief efforts. Following on the footsteps on Run It Once (RIO) Poker and America’s Card Room (ACR), online poker giant PokerStars became the latest online operator to host a full blow celebrity-centric charity tournament for the cause. The tournament named the ‘Stars CALL for Action,’ was organized at the initiative of comedian and poker player Hank Azaria and screenwriter Andy Bellin and pulled in a good number of Hollywood A-listers and sports celebrities to the felts. Something for the Indian operators to draw inspiration from, perhaps?!

The high profile charity event set the virtual felts on fire last Saturday and sailing past the hurdles to claim the bragging rights of outlasting the star-studded (literally) field was Breaking Bad star David Costabile (cover image). The actor bested a host of celebs that included co-stars Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul on his way to the top.

Watch the tournament live-stream below.

On the final table, he outlasted the likes of Chess player Jennifer Shahade, rugby star Mike Tindall and poker icon Chris Moneymaker to eventually face Brazilian footballer Douglas Costa in the heads-up play. Costa entered the heads-up with a considerable chip lead. Still, Costabile, who is also known for playing ‘Mike Ways Wagner’ on the famous show Billions, pulled ahead after two huge double-ups and went on to close the deal with his pocket fours getting the better of Costa’s ace-king suited. The $100,000 that Costabile won will be donated to World Central Kitchen, a charity that arranges food for the needy.

PokerStars congratulated Costabile for his blistering run.

And just like that, it's all over. 😲
Congrats to David Costabile and @douglascosta, who won $100K and $75K for their chosen charities. 💰👏#StarsRaising pic.twitter.com/jmWrThpjyz

— PokerStars (@PokerStars) May 9, 2020

A Celeb Infested Field

The field was replete with some of the most famous Hollywood celebs and sporting legends. The line up included Amy Schumer, Michael Cera, Macaulay Culkin, Jon Hamm, Lisa Kudrow, Don Cheadle, Teri Hatcher, Neymar Jr., Don Cheadle, David Schwimmer, Edward Norton, Kevin Pollak, David Arquette, Liam Payne, Jeff Garlin, Ricky Williams, Jack Black, and Jason Alexander.

There was also Ed Norton from the 1998 poker hit Rounders as well as Jack Stanton and Michael Ian Black in the fray.

For a Good Cause

An amount of $10,000 was donated to charity on behalf of each celebrity who participated. At the same time, PokerStars donated $1 Million to the prize pool. The tourney was live-streamed, and fans were encouraged to make their own donations for the cause. Half of the collected prize money was donated to Care International, while the other half that included the fans’ donations are to be distributed through grants to different charities by the charity navigator, Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF).

PokerStars extended its gratitude to all the participants after the tourney.

Thank you to our host @HankAzaria, and to all the stars who helped raise so much money. ⭐🙏
You can still donate by visiting https://t.co/vOa6EmsHDx 🙂
Thanks for watching. #StarsRaising pic.twitter.com/vedy7uvXcE

— PokerStars (@PokerStars) May 9, 2020

The Tournament

The tourney took place in three phases. In the first, the celebrity participants clashed in a series of 6-max shooting tables – the 23 winners of each of these tables reaching the next stage where they were joined by six regular poker pros.

These pros had won their way through an invite-only poker player tournament. The pro line up comprised of Nick “OP-Poker Nick” Walsh, “pienososas,” Arlie “Prince Pablo” Shaban, “Raksha26,” Jack “Supafuz” Stanton, and Felix “xflixx” Schneiders.

All celebrities who finished runner-up at the shooting tables were invited to a special Second Chance tournament. English footballer Wayne Bridge won the event and received $50,000 to donate to charity.

PokerStars announced Bridge’s victory on Twitter.

He shoots, he scores! 🎉🏆
A round of 👏 for @WayneBridge for taking down the 2nd-Chance tourney and earning $50K for his charity. #StarsRaising pic.twitter.com/TQhCqytnGB

— PokerStars (@PokerStars) May 9, 2020

Final Table Recap

Mike Tindal was the first player on the final table to fall; his all-in move with king-jack was called by Jennifer Shahade, who held king-queen.

Chris Moneymaker, who had sent Jack Stanton and Michael Ian Black to the rail, was busted next in fifth place after his ace-queen lost the battle to Casey Affleck’s ace-deuce that found a deuce on the board.

Shortly after that, Casey Affleck followed Moneymaker to the rail after his ace-nine was dominated by Douglas Costa’s pocket nines.

Down to the last three, the event saw Jennifer Shahade`s all-in shove with ace-queen looked up by Costa`s ace-ten. The latter flopped a diamond flush draw, and the river dramatically was a queen of diamonds that gave Shahade top pair, but also completed Costa’s flush, sending Shahade out.

Douglas Costa was ahead by a comfortable margin when he began the heads-up match against Costabile, but the latter scooped two big pots to take the lead. Eventually, Costabile moved all-in with pocket fours, and Costa, who held the big slick, made the call. The board ran dry, declaring Costabile the champion!

Final Table Results (USD)

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