1. With the biggest prize in poker history, the 2006 main event remains the high watermark for poker’s biggest show. And here the main characters relive that famous night in their own words


With almost 9,000 competitors and a prizepool that created more dollar millionaires than any other poker tournament before or since, the 2006 WSOP main event arguably represents the high point in poker’s recent history.

These were the days before the US legislators came to town, when thousands of internet players chased dreams of emulating Chris Moneymaker to create a purse of $82.5m. Four days into the main event Jamie Gold emerged as chip leader, a position he maintained to the final day.