The Chancer: Jamie Gold Comes Of Age
In a new column called The Chancer, James Hipwell explains how the former world champ is proving to poker's elite that he can actually play the game we love...
14 November 2007 by James Hipwell
"Gold is getting the recognition he deserves because he has shown recently he can play the game after all and has balls of steel"They say all that glitters is not gold and where the 2006 WSOP main event champ is concerned that is certainly true – until now.
Here was a bloke who turned up in Vegas in June 2006, ran over the main event for nearly a fortnight and took down $12,000,000, the biggest prize in poker history. But since his historic victory the industry has it he’s no good at the game – a gifted amateur, but still an amateur, said the game’s commentators.
The problem with Gold was also one of PR, presentation and image, something he is supposed to have known a little about having acted as a talent agent to the likes of James Gandolfini, Felicity Huffman and Lucy Liu. He might have helped to buff the career of The Sopranos boss, a desperate housewife and one of Charlie’s Angels but he couldn’t do the same for himself for shit!
Due largely to the lawsuit filed by British TV producer Crispin Leyser, who claimed that Gold had stiffed him to the tune of $6 million, or half his winnings, when Gold reneged on a deal they had made pre-tournament, Gold’s image stunk to high heaven.
Not only could he not play the game (let’s not even mention the etiquette breaches) all that well but he was a rat too – a devastating combination anywhere but in Vegas... well... a man may as well drive himself into the desert with a Colt 45 and blow his brains out.
It didn’t take that long before Bodog dropped their star player from their roster of sponsored professionals, rendering the world champ as good as dead for future endorsements in a new era of dazzling commercial possibility for those at the very top of the game.
But something has happened. Jamie is back! Although it has taken 18 months he is finally getting the respect that is due a former world champion.
Maybe the agent in him worked overtime and came up with a winning formula: settle with Leyser out of court, do a load of charity work, organise some interviews, make some TV appearances.
Nah, forget that crap – Gold is getting the recognition he deserves because he has shown recently he can play the game after all and has balls of steel. Most poker players don’t give a stuff about charity and their motivations are generally self-centred rather than altruistic.
A player can play in as many charity events as he likes but when it comes down to it those with the biggest bankrolls and most bracelets will be the ones with the ‘wow factor’ in poker. Who would you rather be – Phil Ivey or Barry Greenstein? Point proven.
So forgetting for a second Jamie’s appearance in an ‘Ante Up For Africa’ tournament earlier this year (sorry, which tournament?) and concentrating on his participation in High Stakes Poker, GSN’s unforgettable televised high stakes cash game, we can see that Jamie really has turned a corner.
On his recent appearances on the show he has demonstrated to the poker community that his cohones really are as big as those of Finnish stud muffin Patrik Antonius.
In the latest episode he even contests High Stakes Poker’s biggest ever pot, and what really gets the poker pulse racing is that he plays the pot with Antonius, arguably the king of the high stakes cash game, live, online, or anywhere.
In the hand Antonius is dealt As-Jd and raised to $4,000. Jamie Gold looks down at pocket Kings and re-raises to $14,000. Antonius calls and the flop comes 3s-Qd-Th.
Antonius checks and Gold bets $15,000 with his cowboys. Antonius calls with one over card and a gutshot straight draw. Boom! The turn brings the Kh giving Gold top set, while Antonius lands the nuts, an Ace-high straight.
If you haven’t seen it yet I won’t spoil it for you (you will be able to watch it in Poker Verdict’s new Viral Video Chart in the not too distant future) by revealing what happens.
But it’s fair to say that Jamie Gold has redeemed himself in the eyes of several million poker players the world over.
14/11/07
It’s fair to say that Jamie Gold has redeemed himself in the eyes of several million poker players the world over.