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Jamie Gold wins WSOP Main Event 2006

Few people could have sauntered into the WSOP, sat down and beaten 8773 other players, with the characteristic chin in hand, knock out 7 of the 8 final table players on his own and walk away with the first place. Jamie Gold has won the World Series of Poker.

What made the tense atmosphere at the final table of the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas quite a thriller was not so much that players like Richard Lee were falling by the wayside to the clattering of millions in coins on the sidewalk, but that Jamie Gold almost single-handedly managed to bully his way to the top of the heap.

Perhaps the remaining players were intimidated by his chip lead, or perhaps they just didn't feel to sharp after the part the night before, but challenges on Gold were few and far between, and when they did, the former Hollywood talent agent turned over mammoth cards.

Doug Kim, who finished in 7th, explained on PokerNews.com, "He's got a big stack and he can push me around, so my strategy was to trap him with a hand. I couldn't do that and the one time I caught queens up on him, he folded."

If anyone could have killed the giant, it would have been Allen Cunningham. But many were left wondering "what happened?"

Cunningham and Gold wrangled throughout the match, with no clear winner at any point. About halfway through the match, Cunningham made a huge call on Gold with only A-9 high after Gold tried a big bluff on the river, and it seemed like Cunningham had Gold's number.

However, Cunningham lost out on the $10.5 million pot when he was bluffed by Paul Wasicka after the latter re-raised Cunningham's raise all-in on the turn with nothing but king-high and a gutshot straight draw.

The pivotal hand came after Gold raised to $1.7 million preflop and Wasicka called. The flop came Qc-8h-5h, and after Gold checked, Wasicka bet out $1.5 million. Gold went all-in, and Wasicka momentarily hesitated while Gold tried to lure him into a call. Wasicka made the call with two tens, while Gold showed Q-9 for top pair. The turn came an ace, and the river a four, offering no help to Wasicka, and Jamie Gold was the new World Champion.

Rhett Butler called Gold's cards the greatest he'd seen in over 20 years of poker. But asked if he'd be back next year, he replied, "Unless I'm in a hospital somewhere, I'm going to be here. I can't wait to play again."

Jamie Gold - WSOP 2006 Winner

Final Table WSOP 2006 Main Event

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