Jamie Gold

2006 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Champion

Jamie Gold is the 2006 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Champion. And a very controversial champ he turned out.

He defeated the record number of 8,773 players in the $10,000 No Limit Texas Hold'em Main Event in a 12-day marathon play. In the end Gold was the last man standing and took home his $12 million money prize and the very-coveted WSOP gold and diamond bracelet.

Gold dominated all throughout the Final Table event, he was the consistent chipleader and always "playing the big stack." So huge was the stack he amassed that many of his opponents failed to catch up.

The monumental hand for Gold came after he raised to $1.7 million preflop and runner up Paul Wasicka called. The flop came Qc-8h-5h, and after Gold checked, Wasicka bet out $1.5 million. Gold moved all-in, and Wasicka hesitated for a moment while Gold tried to goad him into a call. Wasicka seemed to read Gold for weakness and 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 became the new WSOP World Champion.

Our new poker millionaire was mentored by the legendary Johnny Chan before entering the Main Event. Looks like he's quite a good listener and a fine student because he managed to accomplish what seemed like an impossible feat to the many players that entered the WSOP championship.

Gold was a former Hollywood producer and talent agent. He has worked with actors James Gandolfini ("The Sopranos"), Felicity Huffman ("Desperate Housewives"), Jimmy Fallon ("Saturday Night Live"), Lucy Liu ("Charlie's Angels") and Kristin Davis ("Sex and the City").

Prior to his WSOP win, he has a number of other in-the-money finishes such as a 5th in the $300 No-Limit Hold'em event at the 2006 Winnin' O' the Green at the Bicycle Casino; a 7th place finish in the $100 No-Limit Hold'em event at Larry Flynt's Grand Slam of Poker IV at the Hustler Casino in 2005; 8th place in the $500 No-Limit Hold'em event at the 9th Annual National Championship of Poker at Hollywood Park Casino in 2005; and the Bicycle Casino's Stars and Stripes tournament in 2006 where he won first place and $60,000.

Gold has signed a two-year endorsement deal with Bodog Poker. As part of the agreement, Gold will play in live tournaments around the world representing Bodog.