The predictions that this year's WSOP main event final table would
be a humdinger were right on target; from the beginning on Thursday
just after 2pm Vegas time there was aggressive play, especially from
chip leader Jamie Gold who dominated the game with a major advantage
in chips. In the early hours of Friday morning the 36-year-old TV
producer beat Paul Wasicka's pair of Tens with a pair of Queens and
became the new World Champion.
The last contest line-up and chip counts at the start on Thursday
afternoon was:
Seat 1 - Richard Lee - $11,820,000
Seat 2 - Erik Friberg - $9,605,000
Seat 3 - Paul Wasicka - $7,970,000
Seat 4 - Dan Nassif - $2,600,000
Seat 5 - Allen Cunningham - $17,770,000
Seat 6 - Michael Binger - $3,140,000
Seat 7 - Doug Kim - $6,770,000
Seat 8 - Jamie Gold - $26,650,000
Seat 9 - Rhett Butler - $4,815,000
After only ten minutes of play, Gold swept up the first big pot of
almost $1.5 million, and that was closely followed after 26 minutes
play by the exit of Dan Nassif after a flop that consisted of 2c,
3s and 5s. Nassif went All-in and Jamie Gold called. Gold had pocket
twos, while Nassif reveals Ac-Kd. An Ah was flipped on the turn and
a 10s on the river and with that Dan Nassif was finished. He finishes
ninth overall with a $1 566 8858.
By 3.25pm Gold had double the chips of anyone else at the table and
his run of aggression, confidence and good cards continued.
The only non-American left from the 8 773 starting field for the main
event, Swede Eric Friberg was next to go in position 8 after a million
dollar confrontation with Gold as evening drew in. His cheque for
$1 979 189 was good consolation.
Just over an hour later it was Doug Kim's time to go at hand 80 and
in position 7 after a brush with Paul Wasicka. His payday broke the
two million barrier at $2 391 520.
The action continued through to hand 122 when Richard Lee picked up
his prize money of $2 803 851 after a $4 million joust with Gold.
After a break for dinner play restarted with blinds at $120 000 to
$240 000 with a $40 000 ante, and there were no further eliminations
until almost 1.00am Friday morning when Rhett Butler was ousted by
Gold at hand 170 in position 5, which paid $3 216 182.
Feisty Allen Cunningham was next to hit the road at 2.21am and hand
208, again falling victim to Gold in a multi-million wrangle that
left the pro out the door with $3 628 513 for his trouble.
At 3:06 AM Michael Binger went out at 3rd position to a Gold attack
at hand 229 and leaves with $4 123 310. What follows is a heads up
tussle between Gold and Wasicka with the following chip counts:
Jamie Gold $78,975,000
Paul Wasicka $11,225,000
Seven hands later Paul Wasicka calls a $1,700,000 raise from Jamie Gold. On a Q85 flop Wasicka bets $1,500,000 followed by Gold going all in. Wasicka calls with a pair of Tens but Gold shows a pair of Queens with Q9. Wasicka doesn't improve and Jamie Gold is the official 2006 World Series of Poker champion, taking home $12,000,000 and the coveted bracelet.
Jamie Gold is sponsored by BoDog.