The Worst Player to Ever Win the WSOP Main Event

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event is the most prestigious and lucrative poker tournament in the world. It attracts the best poker players from around the globe, all competing for the coveted gold bracelet and the multi-million-dollar prize.

However, not all Main Event winners are created equal, and some are widely regarded as undeserving champions. One such player is Jamie Gold, who won the tournament in 2006.

Confident

Jamie Gold was born in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1969. He grew up in New York City and went to college at the State University of New York at Albany. After college, he moved to Los Angeles and became a talent agent, representing actors and comedians such as Jimmy Fallon, Lucy Liu, and Kristin Davis.

Gold's experience as an agent helped him develop his poker skills, as he honed his ability to read people and negotiate deals.

In 2006, Gold decided to enter the $10,000 buy-in WSOP Main Event, which attracted 8,733 players that year. Gold had previously played in some smaller tournaments but had never won a significant event.

Nevertheless, he was confident in his abilities and thought that his experience as an agent would give him an edge at the poker table.

Throughout the Event, Gold played a loose and aggressive style, focussing on making big bets and putting pressure on his opponents. He also employed various psychological tactics, such as verbal sparring which annoyed many fans. Gold's tactics were controversial, and many players found them obnoxious and over the top.

Despite the backlash, Gold dominated the tournament and made it to the final table, where he faced off against the remaining eight players. One of his opponents was Allen Cunningham, a highly-respected pro who had already won four WSOP bracelets to his name.

However, Gold was able to get the better of him and send him to the rail.

In the heads-up portion of the final table, Gold faced Paul Wasicka, a relatively unknown player who had only a few small cashes to his name. Wasicka played a tight and patient game, waiting for good hands and not taking unnecessary risks.

Gold, on the other hand, continued his aggressive style, making big bets and trying to bully Wasicka into making mistakes.

The final hand of the tournament was a dramatic one. Wasicka had a pair of tens, while Gold had a pair of nines. Both players went all-in, and the board came down 9 4 7 3. Gold had hit his miracle card and won the hand, giving him the WSOP Main Event title and the $12 million first-place prize.

Despite his victory, Gold's performance in the tournament was widely criticised. Many players and fans felt that he had played recklessly and relied too heavily on luck.

They also believed that his behaviour at the table was inappropriate and unprofessional. Gold's opponents accused him of bullying and intimidating them, and some even claimed that he had cheated by showing his hole cards to his friends.

Gold's reputation took a further hit when he failed to capitalise on his Main Event win. He made several ill-advised investments, including buying a stake in an NBA team, which resulted in substantial losses.

He also became embroiled in various legal disputes, including a lawsuit with Crispin Leyser, a fellow Main Event player who claimed that Gold had promised him a share of his winnings but reneged on the deal.

For many, Jamie Gold is regarded as the worst player to ever win the WSOP Main Event. While he was able to outlast a massive field of players, his unorthodox and controversial playing style, as well as his unprofessional behaviour at the table, left a sour taste in the mouths of many in the poker community.