Articles

Ruffin wins billionaire poker game again

Gambling tycoon Phil Ruffin has triumphed again in the annual billionaire charity poker game organised by Forbes, it has been reported.

According to Forbes, Ruffin easily took victory in 2007 and repeated the feat again in 2008, sweeping aside John Catsimitidis (real estate), Tom Siebel (software) and Stewart Rahr (pharmaceuticals).

"Bring better players next year," Mr Ruffin remarked after eliminating his final opponent, Catsimitidis. "I want real competition."

The game took place on a yacht this year, with the 2009 version scheduled for a gala event in Manhattan in September.

Forbes claimed that any billionaire is eligible to take part.

A total of $200,000 was raised this time around, with Mr Ruffin donating the cash to the American Diabetes Association.

Poker fans may be surprised that banking billionaire Andrew Beal has yet to take part in one of the competitions, as he is a known fan of the game who once took on the sport's best players for several million dollars.