On Friday night, as drivers prepared for the Qualifying race in the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, a mix of celebrities, F1 personalities, poker professionals, and philanthropists gathered at Allē Lounge on 66 at Resorts World for the inaugural $10,000 Big Deal for One Drop Charity Poker Tournament.
The tournament was hosted by Cirque du Soleil and One Drop founder Guy Laliberté and emceed by 17-time bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth, who sported a custom One Drop and WPT Foundation jersey with, of course, No. 17!
Among those to participate were racing legends David Coulthard, Martin Brundle, Mika Häkkinen, and Alex Wurz, former Alpine Renault Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer; and poker players Antonio Esfandiari, Jeff Gross, Dan “Jungleman” Cates, Matt Savage, Matthias Eibinger, Tony Dunst, Maria Ho, Jennifer Tilly, and more.
PokerNews was on-site throughout the tournament and gave fans a behind-the-scenes look in a lengthy thread on X:
Hellmuth and Tilly were the figurative stars of the show often posing for photographs with fans and entertaining the masses throughout the entirety of the tournament. For Tilly, that included a run to fourth place.
“We are very happy with how this inaugural event came together,” said Adam Pliska, President and CEO of the World Poker Tour. “The Big Deal for One Drop showcased the perfect blend of fun, competition, and meaningful impact, creating an afternoon to remember.”
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The tournament began with four tables and played a semi-shootout format where the last two players from each table advanced to the final table, which is where some great prizes began.
Derek Adamian emerged as the champion of the inaugural Big Deal for One Drop taking home the ultra-exclusive Monaco Grand Prix Experience, including VIP tickets to the race and invitations to the Prince’s Palace Reception, and a stunning limited-edition World Poker Tour chip set. The runner-up was Raphael Schreiner with Laliberté, Tilly, Cates, Gross, and former F1 driver Alex Wurz, who was playing poker for the first time, all taking home final table prizes.
Here’s a look at some of the prizes that were available, and players got to choose one at a time starting with the winner and working their way back.
- Singapore Grand Prix VIP Experience: Private suite tickets for two with luxury accommodations at the October 2025 race.
- Montreal Grand Prix VIP Experience: Platinum tickets and VIP hospitality in June 2025, including access to the renowned Ritz-Carlton Grand Prix VIP Party.
- Steve Aoki DJ Booth Experience: An exclusive opportunity for four to enjoy the show from the DJ booth, complete with a meet-and-greet and premium hospitality.
- Mahindra Formula E Team Hospitality Package: VIP access to the 2025 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.
- Dos Caras Gran Embajador Tequila: An ultra-limited-edition bottle valued at over $10,000.
The tournament benefitted the One Drop Foundation’s mission to provide safe water, sanitation, and hygiene to communities in need worldwide. Since its inception in 2012, One Drop has transformed the lives of nearly 3,000,000 people and continues to expand its efforts thanks to events like this one.
“The Big Deal for One Drop is a testament to the power of community and collaboration,” said Laliberté. “It’s incredible to see so many people come together, not just for the love of the game but also to bring hope and opportunity to communities in need of access to safe water around the world.”
Check out some more photos from the Big Deal for One Drop:
About One Drop Foundation
At One Drop, we unite people and empower communities to solve the water and climate crisis through innovative, sustainable actions. Channeling the creative spirit of Cirque du Soleil, we rally local and international changemakers to raise funds and co-create solutions that drive life-changing projects worldwide. Together, since 2007, we have transformed the lives of nearly 3 million people in Latin America, India, Africa, and among Indigenous communities in Canada. Join us in turning water into action and creating a sustainable future with safe water for all. For more information about One Drop’s safe water initiatives, visit OneDrop.org.
About WPT Foundation
World Poker Tour Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to utilizing the exceptional World Poker Tour international platform to influence positive change on a global scale. The core of the WPT Foundation’s fundraising efforts is the ongoing series of philanthropic poker events titled WPT Playing for a Better World. World Poker Tour Foundation and its associated charity events will help bring awareness and raise critical funds for non-profit programs of excellence. Since 2012, the WPT Foundation has helped raise nearly $50 Million with its partners. This unprecedented philanthropic effort is dedicated to improving our planet by supporting key charities in regard to human rights, education, world hunger, and the environment.
*Images courtesy of WPT.
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