'Celebrity Poker Showdown' Host Reveals Best & Worst Celebrity Poker Players

By Bryan Alexander Posted Oct 31st 2009 10:00PM

Who's the best celebrity poker player in the world? It was a big source of debate at the second annual "Ante Up For Africa Tournament at San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino To Benefit Darfur" event in Highland, California on Thursday. "A couple of years ago I would have said Ben Affleck or Leonardo DiCaprio," 'Celebrity Poker Showdown' host Phil Gordon told PopEater. "It's definitely not Don Cheadle," says Gordon, needling the event co- host. "I love Don, but having played with him in a really competitive situation I can pretty much tell you it's pretty much not him."

An easier question was who is the worst celebrity poker player. "I don't want to say Dennis Rodman because he's a really big guy, and I'm scared of him," says Gordon. "But... it's Dennis Rodman."

"When you're playing poker it's sort of key to understand that three- of-a-kind beats two-pair. Fundamental rules." Gordon remembers Rodman on his poker show with a highly enviable hand. "He had king-queen. And the board was king, queen, queen. And someone bet and he folded. I still remember that hand."

Rodman, who will appear on 'VH1's Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew,' clearly has bigger fish to fry. 'Ante Up' co-host Annie Duke recalls Rodman on 'Celebrity Apprentice,' especially the climatic episode when Rodman was kicked off the show for his erratic behavior and told to get help. "It was like an intervention," says Duke. "They actually cut the episode in a very kind way. It was actually much worse in real life."

"The thing that was interesting, and this is true of a lot of interventions, is that there wasn't anyone in the room who genuinely didn't want him to seek help. It was very clear from what we saw, that this was someone who had a problem."

Duke, who hasn't spoken to Rodman since his departure from the show, is looking forward to seeing him on Celebrity Rehab. "It's one of my favorite shows," she says. "I'll be watching.

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Celebs Give Back

Comedian George Lopez and Don Cheadle play at the 2nd Annual "Ante Up For Africa and San Manuel To Help Darfur" poker tournament. More photos >>

AP IMAGES FOR SAN MANUEL

Help Darfur Event

COMMERCIAL IMAGE: In this photograph taken by AP Images for San Manuel; Comedian Geroge Lopez attends the 2nd Annual Ante Up for Africa poker tournament to benefit Darfur at San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino in Highland, California on October 29th, 2009. (Vince Bucci / AP Images for San Manuel)

AP IMAGES FOR SAN MANUEL

COMMERCIAL IMAGE: In this photograph taken by AP Images for San Manuel; Actor Don Cheadle and professional poker player Annie Duke attend the 2nd Annual Ante Up for Africa poker tournament to benefit Darfur at San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino in Highland, California on October 29th, 2009. (Vince Bucci / AP Images for San Manuel)

AP IMAGES FOR SAN MANUEL

COMMERCIAL IMAGE: In this photograph taken by AP Images for San Manuel; (L-R) Comedian Geroge Lopez and Actor Don Cheadle attends the 2nd Annual Ante Up for Africa poker tournament to benefit Darfur at San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino in Highland, California on October 29th, 2009. (Vince Bucci / AP Images for San Manuel)

AP IMAGES FOR SAN MANUEL

COMMERCIAL IMAGE: In this photograph taken by AP Images for San Manuel; (L-R) Comedian George Lopez and professional poker player Ali Nejad pose for a picture at the 2nd Annual Ante Up for Africa poker tournament to benefit Darfur at San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino in Highland, California on October 29th, 2009. (Vince Bucci / AP Images for San Manuel)

AP IMAGES FOR SAN MANUEL

COMMERCIAL IMAGE: In this photograph taken by AP Images for San Manuel; Comedian George Lopez and actor Don Cheadle play at the 2nd Annual Ante Up for Africa poker tournament to benefit Darfur at San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino in Highland, California on October 29th, 2009. (Vince Bucci / AP Images for San Manuel)

AP IMAGES FOR SAN MANUEL

COMMERCIAL IMAGE: In this photograph taken by AP Images for San Manuel; (L-R) Actress Sara Rue and tournament champion Ali Akhyari play during the 2nd Annual Ante Up for Africa poker tournament to benefit Darfur at San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino in Highland, California on October 29th, 2009. (Vince Bucci / AP Images for San Manuel)

AP IMAGES FOR SAN MANUEL

Actress Cheryl Hines plays in the Second Annual Ante Up For Africa Poker Tournament on October 29, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Second Annual Ante Up For Africa Poker Tournament - Inside Los Angeles, CA United States October 29, 2009 Photo by Dr. Billy Ingram/WireImage.com To license this image (58776235), contact WireImage.com

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Actor Marlon Wayans plays in the Second Annual Ante Up For Africa Poker Tournament on October 29, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Second Annual Ante Up For Africa Poker Tournament - Inside Los Angeles, CA United States October 29, 2009 Photo by Dr. Billy Ingram/WireImage.com To license this image (58776175), contact WireImage.com

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Actress Cheryl Hines attends the Second Annual Ante Up For Africa Poker Tournament on October 29, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Second Annual Ante Up For Africa Poker Tournament - Arrivals Los Angeles, CA United States October 29, 2009 Photo by Dr. Billy Ingram/WireImage.com To license this image (58775183), contact WireImage.com

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