James Maddison was among a number of footballers who swapped the pitch for poker to raise money for charity.
Leicester star Maddison was joined by West Ham duo Michail Antonio and Ryan Fredericks, Fulham-bound Michael Hector and Hull City’s Callum Elder at the 888/Fresh Ego Kid Poker tournament.
Alongside former footballer-turned FEK fashion brand founder Marvin Morgan, his business partner Jon Reuben and poker pro Vivian Saliba they were all playing for the chance to win £1,000 for charity and an exclusive, all-expenses paid trip to Madrid to take part in an even bigger fundraising event.
Following the furore of his casino visit after he was withdrawn from the England squad due to illness in October, Maddison was playing to support a worthy cause of his choice at Aspers Casino, Stratford, with his rivals also picking their own charities.
Spirits were high especially with Maddison, who has previously won events and donated his winnings to the Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Foundation, the charity named after Leicester’s late owner, plus Antonio and Fredericks coming into it off the back of big wins for their clubs at the weekend.
Maddison helped Leicester to a dramatic, last-gasp 2-1 victory over Everton on Sunday while Antonio and Fredericks played key roles in West Ham’s shock 1-0 win at Chelsea.
But it was Saliba who proved more than a match for her football opponents and went home the winner, pipping Fredericks to the big prize.
10andreas
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So Casino are played for Charity too? Never heard before!👀