The 2008 convention of the National Alliance of Actresses Who Now Play Poker Almost Exclusively. (Photos by Erik Kabik)

Yesterday’s Ante Up for Africa celebrity poker tournament at the Rio drew a formidable lineup of celebs ready to hit the felt. Among those in attendance were Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Don Cheadle, George Lopez, Adam Sandler, Ray Romano, Charles Barkley, Shannon Elizabeth, Jennifer Tilly, Jason Alexander, Scott Ian and Jerry Cantrell.

We hope to reunite this exact cast when Bravo finally picks up our pitch for Celebrity Dodgeball Cagematch. It’s going to be ratings gold.

By Jason Scavone

The hangdog expression that only having your aces cracked on the river can create.

Don Cheadle, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck took some time to rest up before today’s celebrity charity tournament at the World Series of Poker inside the McFadden’s Irish Saloon room of the Ante Up for Africa suite at the Rio. We imagine Damon halfheartedly humored Affleck’s treatments for Good Will Hunting 2.

Also there were Celebrity Poker Showdown vet Mekhi Phifer enjoying a vodka/cranberry, general gambling vet Charles Barkley enjoying the same – but a triple, and Jerry Seinfeld luggage carrying vet Jason Alexander.

By Jason Scavone

Don’t let that sensitive Boogie Nights crap fool you. Don Cheadle will take all your money. (Photo by Erik Kabik)

Today at 2 p.m. the Rio brings in the big guns for the Second Annual Ante Up for Africa celebrity poker tournament as part of the 2008 World Series of Poker. Well, as big as you can get without getting world-famous actor and long-time terror of the felt Gabe Kaplan involved, anyway.

Created by Don Cheadle and poker pro Annie Duke, the tournament will benefit ENOUGH, which aims to help with trouble in Darfur, northern Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and Not On Our Watch, founded by George Clooney, Don Cheadle, Matt Damon and Brad Pitt, which has adopted Darfur as its initial cause.

Expected to play in today’s tournament are Cheadle, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Adam Sandler, Ray Romano, Charles Barkley, Jason Kidd, Kevin Pollack, Cheryl Hines, George Lopez and Joe Trohman of Fall Out Boy. Poker pros Doyle Brunson, Phil Ivey, Daniel Negreanu, Howard Lederer, Chris Ferguson, Andy Bloch, Phil Hellmuth, Phil Laak, Erik Seidel, Phil Gordon, Rafe Furst, Barry Greenstein and others, subject to availability, will sit as well.

There’s a 45 percent chance of Ocean’s 14 accidentally being filmed during the course of the tournament.

By Jason Scavone

The Round Mound of Pot Odds.

Charles Barkley, who, following his marker trouble with Wynn Las Vegas last month said he wasn’t going to gamble for the next year or two, failed to qualify that by “next year or two,” he meant in dog years.

Barkley will play in a charity poker tournament July 2 at the World Series of Poker as part of Ante Up for Africa events, aimed at raising money for Darfur.

Sir Charles said all of his winnings will go to one of two charities. A third charity, The Charles Barkley Foundation for a Better, Showgirl-Filled Tomorrow, may be in the mix if things heat up at the dice table after the tournament.

By Jason Scavone

There is something amazing in this photo, but it has nothing to do with Spider-Man. (Photos by Erik Kabik)

Jennifer Tilly, Antonio Esfandiari and Phil Laak helped kick off the World Series of Poker season last night at Tao inside The Venetian for the official start-of-the-grind throwdown. From now until the middle of July — and then again for the main event final table in November — players will battle to see who can be the one to have their aces cracked in the most excruciating way possible.

A few numbers from last night’s party: Number of professional poker players? Three. Number of people who think they’re one good run away from building a bankroll that will allow them to tell the boss to kiss off? 78. Percentage of conversations involving “the river?” 97.

Also, we’re sure the waitress loves the fact that she can’t set down the bottle of Grey Goose because Esfandiari brought a deck of cards and got everyone in on a game of seven-card stud. Just a tip, magic man: No, her card wasn’t the king of spades. She’s just saying that to be nice. Now do you need more cranberry juice or what?

By Jason Scavone