CATCHING UP WITH 2006 WSOP MAIN EVENT CHAMPION JAMIE GOLD
2006 WSOP Main Event champion Jamie Gold chats about the WSOP, Solana partnership, and gives advice for players at the 2026 WSOP Main Event final table.
Jul 24 2026 02:00 PM EST
Las Vegas, Nevada (July 24, 2026) - Few deep tournament runs in the World Series of Poker Main Event are as memorable as the one poker fans witnessed on ESPN in 2006.
Making the trip from Los Angeles to Las Vegas to compete in the 2006 WSOP Main Event at The Rio, talent agent Jamie Gold had already spoken his inevitable victory into existence, telling friends of his intentions of winning the tournament the very first time he played it.
Going on a historic run full of strategic table talk, thrilling hands, and a little bit of luck, Gold’s victory in the 2006 WSOP Main Event remains one of the most memorable Main Event victories two decades later.
On the 20th anniversary of Gold’s WSOP Main Event victory, and the final table of the 2026 WSOP Main Event set to play out on ESPN August 3-5, 2026, the WSOP Team sat down with Jamie to reflect on how he has been using poker to give back, the new WSOP-Solana partnership, and what advice he has to the final nine players in the Main Event.
Jamie Gold playing in the 2026 WSOP Main Event.
Bringing Show Business to the Poker World
Before becoming the 2006 WSOP Main Event champion, Jamie Gold was a full-time talent agent in Los Angeles representing a large roster of talent and working on the financial side of movies and television productions.
Having not taken a vacation in 12 years, Gold was understandably burnt out and looked to one of his favorite games for a reprieve from his successful career.
Semi-retiring, Gold gave himself a year to pursue poker, studying with some of the best poker players in the world on his path to playing his first WSOP Main Event.
Pulling off the most impressive WSOP Main Event debut in poker history, Gold not only claimed victory in the 2006 WSOP Main Event, but won the biggest first-place prize ever awarded to a Main Event champion ($12,000,000), a record that would stand until 2023.
Immediately thrust into the pinnacle of the poker industry, Gold would forever be linked with the WSOP and the game of poker, eventually bringing his background in show business to the poker world.
“I never planned on being a professional poker player. I always wanted it to be a part of my life, but to also do other things,” Gold said. “I started producing celebrity charity poker events. I loved the idea of producing something that instantly gave back to the world.”
Just a few days ago, Gold teamed up with the official voice of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Bruce Buffer, to host Variety’s 14th Annual Poker & Casino Night at Paramount Pictures Studios in Hollywood.
In between celebrity charity tournaments, Gold can still be found mixing it up on the felt. During the 2026 WSOP, Gold had a regular presence on the tournament floor and often was found hosting his favorite cash games at the Paris WSOP ballroom.
Leaving the cash game table to speak with the WSOP Team, Gold was most excited to discuss his new ambassadorship.
Jamie Gold (left) pictured with Jack Effel (right) during the WSOP Main Event Shuffle Up and Deal.
Jamie Gold Talks WSOP and Solana
The 2026 WSOP saw Solana, a cryptocurrency that powers a high-performance network of internet capital markets, payments, AI agents, and crypto applications, serve as the primary sponsor of the series.
Solana may have brought a stunning new purple hue to the WSOP Final Table Stage, but it also brings the innovations of the cryptocurrency space to the WSOP, serving as new partners to the most prestigious brand in poker.
While being a longtime ambassador for the game of poker and the WSOP, Jamie Gold is now also serving as an official ambassador for Solana.
"I’m incredibly proud to be an ambassador for Solana and their partnership with the WSOP,” Gold said.
“This partnership will change lives, affect so many people in a positive way. Never having to carry large amounts of cash again? Amazing.”
“The WSOP-Solana partnership has so much utility. It reflects the changing poker economy and what today's players want and need. Every year, more poker players adopt cryptocurrency, whether it's for funding their accounts or making withdrawals through the WSOP Live app. This partnership isn't just a sign of where the industry is headed—it reflects how the modern poker and gaming communities already choose to do business.”
Be sure to catch the 2026 WSOP Main Event Final Table on ESPN August 3-5, 2026!
Gold’s Advice for the 2026 WSOP Main Event Final Table
Naturally, being the champion of one of the biggest WSOP Main Events in history, Jamie Gold was willing to offer some advice for the final nine players getting ready to battle it out at the 2026 WSOP Main Event Final Table.
“Congratulations for making it this far; that is a fantastic achievement. Enjoy the time and savor the moments as it will go by faster than you can imagine,” Gold said. “This 2-week break before playing it out is a great time to recharge and fully embrace the beauty of it all.”
“Enjoy the ride. Just make sure not to lose focus and remember what got you there. Be ready to play your game. This is the most epic opportunity on the biggest stage in poker; you earned it and deserve to be there. Now is your time to shine.”
A special thank you to 2006 WSOP Main Event champion Jamie Gold not only for taking the time to chat with the WSOP Team, but also for his continued support of the World Series of Poker.
To see who will join Jamie Gold in the illustrious class of WSOP Main Event champions, be sure to catch the three-day final of the 2026 WSOP Main Event, which is set to air on ESPN August 3-5, 2026, with action kicking off at 6 P.M. PST August 3rd on ESPN2.
