For the second 12 months in a row, 2006 World Sequence of Poker (WSOP) Principal Occasion champ Jamie Gold made his approach to The Bahamas for WSOP Paradise. It was a simple determination for the bracelet winner, who gained $12 million for profitable the Principal Occasion, a document that stood till Daniel Weinman gained $12.1 million in 2023.
“It is so lovely and there are such a lot of issues to do,” Gold informed PokerNews. “Lots of my buddies wished to come back right here and so it was sort of a no brainer that I might be right here.”
Apart from that, Gold was among the many throngs of individuals interested in poker’s largest-ever assure.
“I’m at all times excited in regards to the WSOP occasions and the truth that they’re having their largest assure ever – the Tremendous Principal Occasion with a $50 million assure – actually made it much more engaging. However after I used to be right here final 12 months, it’s such an important mixture of a trip and WSOP occasions. So, think about what we now have is a mini model of what we now have in Vegas however on the ocean.”
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Taking part in the Tremendous Principal Occasion
For Gold, a particular promotion with PokerStake and WSOP Paradise additionally appealed to him.
“You possibly can promote half your motion on PokerStake they usually had been prepared to try this for anyone,” he stated, referring to the location guaranteeing as much as 50% protection on unsold motion for the primary 100 eligible gamers. “I had no concept till I talked to Josh Arieh.”
Gold was one of many eligible gamers who took benefit of the promotion.
Equally, he thought it was cool that the WSOP+ App was guaranteeing gamers who purchased into the Tremendous Principal Occasion with Bitcoin might maximize their returns. Anybody who used WSOP+ to purchase in with Bitcoin and cashed the match could make a withdrawal on Dec. 20 and they’d cowl the distinction if the Bitcoin worth goes up after the deposit.
“The truth that you should purchase in for Bitcoin and if it goes up through the time that you just’re taking part in, and also you money the match, they may pay you the distinction,” stated Gold. “So, you are mainly freerolling in your Bitcoin if it goes up you did not lose out on something.”
Gold’s took his shot within the $26K buy-in Tremendous Principal Occasion on Friday’s Day 1b flight.
“I’ve by no means performed an even bigger buy-in than a $10K aside from money. I would not say that I am nervous, I am simply excited,” he stated earlier than play. “I feel it is the equal in all probability of a few of these tremendous execs that purchase into the $250K over the summer season the place, , they hadn’t completed that earlier than they usually weren’t used to doing something greater than $100K perhaps. I am actually excited to see how the motion adjustments. I feel it should be a troublesome subject, I do not assume there’s going to be a number of lifeless cash in it.”
Sadly for Gold, whereas he battled for a lot of the day, he was not among the many gamers to bag chips. Whether or not or not he provides it one other go stays to be seen, but it surely could be tempting as an overlay could be within the playing cards.
“I’ve this sense that perhaps they will not [hit the guarantee] and that GGPoker was being overly beneficiant,” stated Gold. “I am not even saying that it wasn’t good for them to do it. I feel it is an important factor for them to do. I do not assume that overlays are nice for poker usually as a result of it then makes [operators] hesitant transferring ahead. So, I hope that it is damaged. I actually hope that we get greater than the two,000 entries that they want, however I’ve a sense it should be shut.”
Loving the Atlantis
Whereas he could also be out of the Tremendous Principal Occasion, Gold has a lot to maintain him busy because the 2024 WSOP Paradise is happening on the Atlantis on Paradise Island.
“They’ve one in every of my favourite locations on the planet – Nobu,” stated Gold, a famous epicure. “They’ve a Fish by José Andrés and a extremely good Italian restaurant. It is only a fairly extraordinary mixture of so many issues that I like and the climate is gorgeous. If we got here throughout hurricane season it would not be so nice, however they do it on the proper time and what GGPoker, WSOP, and Triton are placing collectively for everyone, it appears like a present for poker gamers and it appears like there could be an overlay. However even when there’s not, simply the truth that they’re creating all of this for us to get pleasure from it’s superb.”
He added in regard to GGPoker taking up possession of the WSOP: “It feels as in the event that they care lots and they are going to put some huge cash into it. They don’t seem to be shy about investing in it. Take a look at how a lot cash they spent to get the model. So, you may think about what this will grow to be.
“The technical facet of it’s simply the truth that they’re creating a complete new app with WSOP+. I really feel like the mix of the best way that they may movie all of it and perhaps create extra content material will assist drive extra individuals to the model, to have some sort of connection to it. I consider that GG proudly owning the WSOP model – and the period of time, effort, and cash that they’re going to put into it – might actually assist develop poker, which is nice for everyone.”
What’s Subsequent for Gold?
When he’s not taking part in poker, Gold stays busy in Hollywood (bear in mind, he was a expertise agent when he gained the Principal Occasion).
“I positively wish to play extra poker. I am taking the sport very critically, and I really feel there’s at all times a lot extra to be taught.”
“I’m positively going to be funding extra motion pictures and TV reveals,” he stated of his plans for the New Yr. He additionally shared that he’s concerned with a brand new dental product and hopes to share particulars within the close to future. Given his dad was a dentist and his mother ran the dental workplace, it’s a product close to and expensive to his coronary heart.
And whereas it’s been almost 20 years since his historic Principal Occasion win, Gold is already trying ahead to the following WSOP in Las Vegas.
“I’ll positively be on the World Sequence through the summer season. Very enthusiastic about that,” he stated. “I am eager about perhaps a few different Circuit stops that I have never actually performed in a very long time.”
GGPoker’s stewardship of the WSOP is a brand new period of poker, and for Gold, he hopes to vary with it.
“I positively wish to play extra poker. I am taking the sport very critically, and I really feel there’s at all times a lot extra to be taught, and the extra I be taught, the extra excited I’m in regards to the sport. I am actually enthusiastic about the way forward for poker, about my future in poker.”
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