Uk-Poker.co.uk

Celebrities and poker have always enjoyed a close relationship, if not always profitable. In fact, numerous sports stars and TV celebrities have ditched their day jobs to take up the game professionally, including legendary Aussie spinner Shane Warne, tennis ace Pete Sampras, EastEnders actor Michael Greco and Hollywood star Ben Affleck. OK, the Pearl Harbour actor has obviously not turned his back on the big screen, but his success on the poker table (Affleck won the top prize of $356,400 at the California State Poker Championship in 2004) has at very least proved more lucrative than his marriage to Jennifer Lopez or their starring in the box office flop, Gigli.

The celebrity line up for the forthcoming Sky Poker Tour Luton, which is one of the top UK poker tournaments, has attracted a diverse crowd this year. Scheduled to commence on Saturday, those who are keen to watch celebrities flex their poker muscles will be able to enjoy the eccentric antics of horse racing pundit, John McCririck, who is arguably every bit as outspoken and controversial as poker great Phil Hellmuth. McCririck will be hoping to summon a small proportion of Hellmuth’s talent on the tables as he squares up to former WBO Cruiserweight World Champion Johnny Nelson and former midfielder for Tottenham, Chelsea and Portsmouth, Micky Hazard.

Fans attending the Luton leg of the Sky Poker Tour will also enjoy the appearance of model, actress and DJ, Kitty Lea, who was recently voted one of Front Magazine’s fittest ever women – an accolade that is bound to cause a stir. Visual distractions aside, John McCririck is hoping to enjoy significantly greater success at Luton’s G Casino this weekend than he has experienced in other UK poker tournaments. Surprisingly, the horse racing pundit has also revealed his philosophical side in the run-up to the event, having astutely pointed out that it is “your fault whether you win or not”.