WSOP Classic Moments – Jamie Gold Wins 2006 Main Event

The 2006 WSOP Main Event was the first event to be held entirely at the Rio All Suites Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV. Records were obliterated when an unlikely 8,773 players turned out to make a first place prize pool of $12,000,000. The top ten places all were Millionaires.

The big story of the Main Event centered around two players. The first was Jamie Gold. Gold took the chip lead early in the event and extended it to such a massive lead that it seemed that nobody had a chance to catch him. Nobody that is, except Allen Cunningham. Cunningham was the only big name pro at the final and the only player with a stack comparable to Gold’s. Gold held over 25 Million chips to Cunningham’s entering the final table.

Ultimately, Cunningham could not topple Jamie Gold and his mountain of chips as Gold continued to run well. Ultimately, it was a young player by the name of Paul Wasicka that took on Gold heads-up for the bracelet. The final hand saw Wasicka with pocket tens against the Q-9 of Gold. A queen on the flop put Gold in the lead, and Gold was able to get Wasicka to commit his last chips with his pocket tens. Gold’s queens held up and Jamie Gold won the largest prize in the history of the World Series of Poker at $12 Million.

After winning the bracelet in 2006, Gold has become one of the least heralded champions in history. Much of this is due to a legal dispute with Crispin Leyser of Bodog Entertainment. Gold had promised half of his winnings to Leyser in repayment of Bodog providing Gold’s Main Event entry. Gold failed to live up to his end of the agreement and the two sides went to court. Half of the money was held in limbo by the courts, with the two sides eventually settling the matter.

Gold has continued to try and use his celebrity status as former WSOP Champion to help charity, hosting many charity poker events. However, endorsement deals for the champion have been few and far between. He held a deal with Bodog.com that was obviously terminated. Later, he signed with Aces Poker in a deal that was later backed out of by Gold

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