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. Gold has taken out 5 of the final table eliminations so far.
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
As we went to press this week there were three players left at 2.21am Vegas time Friday morning and play was at Hand 227 after a blistering contest involving millions of dollars in bets, thrilling play and all the excitement of the biggest and richest poker championship in the world.
This was how things stood when we dragged ourselves away from play to get the weekly InfoPowa out!
Fri Aug 11 02:22:00 PDT 2006
Updated Chip Counts
Jamie Gold $57,000,000
Paul Wasicka $16,500,000
Michael Binger $14,000,000
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.
STOP PRESS:
3.06am – Michael Binger out at 3rd position to a Gold attack at hand 229 and leaves with $4 123 310.
It’s now a heads up tussle between Gold and Wasicka with the following chip counts:
Fri Aug 11 03:24:00 PDT 2006
Updated Chip Counts
Jamie Gold $78,975,000
Paul Wasicka $11,225,000