The event will be held at Resorts World Las Vegas this week
Phil Hellmuth is set to take on the role of emcee at the Big Deal for One Drop charity poker event happening this week at Resorts World Las Vegas. Scheduled to coincide with the Formula 1 race week, the event promises an exciting mix of poker, entertainment, and philanthropy, drawing prominent figures from multiple fields.
Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté will headline the $10,000 buy-in event, joined by racing legends such as David Coulthard, Martin Brundle, Otmar Szafnauer, and Alex Wurz. Also making appearances are F1 photographer Kim Illman and artist Paul Oz. In the poker world, the roster includes inaugural One Drop champion Antonio Esfandiari, Maria Ho, and Jeff Gross, among others.
The event begins at noon local time, allowing participants to enjoy both the high-stakes poker action and the evening’s Formula 1 festivities. An after-party at Zouk nightclub will feature performances from electronic music icons Kaskade and Deadmau5.
This charity tournament supports the One Drop Foundation, which focuses on addressing global water and climate challenges. Over the years, the collaboration between the One Drop Foundation and the World Poker Tour (WPT) Foundation has raised over $75 million for their causes.
The event will also award a unique prize package for the May 2025 Monaco Grand Prix. The “Crown Jewel” package includes VIP passes for race qualifying and the main event, along with exclusive invitations to a reception at the Palace of Monaco.
Esfandiari, known as “The Magician,” has been active on the poker scene recently, playing alongside F1 drivers Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc, as well as Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, at the PokerGO Studio. This event blends poker’s competitive spirit with a commitment to meaningful causes, with the Poker Brat, a 17-time bracelet winner, being one of the main faces.
