COVID-19 allegedly killed Hank Azaria’s winning streak.
The “Simpsons” star and longtime poker ace recently defeating SOX Entertainment CEO Scott Koondel at The V Foundation’s charity poker tournament, and they were expected to have a rematch at Azaria’s annual charity match, All in For Dream.
But while the celebrity poker tournament went ahead at Casa Cipriani, Azaria was unable to attend due to contracting the coronavirus, we’re told.
A source told us Azaria made good by promising to match attendees’ buy-ins, which raises money for its free charter schools around Harlem and the Bronx in New York City.
The evening featured cocktails, a sushi spread, and stand-up by comedian and Azaria’s fellow “Simpsons” actor, Matt Friend, who took over hosting duties for the evening.
Hospitality impresario and poker enthusiast, David Rabin, described it as his favorite event of the year in an Instagram post.
Koondel, on the other hand, was gearing up for a redo with Azaria, who beat him with quad sevens at V Foundation’s annual Norm MacDonald celebrity poker match, which raises money for cancer research.
Competetive Koondel is seemingly still peeved by the loss, telling Page Six, “I want to see the COVID test.”
It turns out, Koondel had no luck either way. We’re told that although he made it far, he was knocked out by the same hand he lost to Azaria with a week prior: a pocket of six. Opendoor founder Eric Wu defeated him.
Professional poker player Andy Frankenberger was knocked out of the match early, we’re told.
Fox Sports host Nick Wright won the night.
