2006 World Series of Poker
Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino – Las Vegas
End of Day Five Report
Event #39
No-Limit Hold’em World Championship
Buy-In: $10,000
Number of Entries: 8,773
Total Prize Money: $82,512,162
The Final Table:
SEAT 1: Richard Lee
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
Chip Count: 11,820,000
Richard Lee a 55-year-old investor from San Antonio, Texas. He was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. This is the second straight year that Richard has played at the World Series of Poker. This is his first time to cash and first time ever to make it to a final table. Prior to this, Richard’s best poker finish was 12th place at last year’s Grand Slam of Poker held in Los Angeles. Richard is married and has three grown children. When asked what he wants the rest of the world to know about him, Richard said, “I love my family, my country, and San Antonio!” He arrives third today in the chip count.
SEAT 2: Erik Friberg
Hometown: Stockholm, Sweden
Chip Count: 9,605,000
Erik Friberg is a 23-year-old professional online poker player from Stockholm, Sweden. He represents a growing legion of Scandinavian poker superstars who have come to the WSOP and won prize money. In fact, Sweden now ranks as the most successful country in terms of number of players compared to in-the-money finishers. Erik plays mostly on the Internet and won the Swedish Poker Challenge in 2005. His poker nickname, “Lilar” means, appropriately enough, “gambler.” Prior to taking up poker for a living, he was a college student. Erik is already guaranteed at least a million-and-a-half dollars in what is his first year to play at the World Series. He arrives fourth today in the chip count.
SEAT 3: Paul Wasickca
Hometown: Westminster, Colorado
Chip Count: 7,970,000
Paul Wasickca is a 25-year-old poker player who used to work as a bartender and restaurant manager. He was born in Dallas, Texas -- and now lives in Westminster, Colorado. Paul started playing poker about two years ago and has already cashed six times at major poker tournaments, including 14th place in a previous No-Limit Hold’em event held at this year’s World Series. His poker nickname is “Kwick Fish.” When asked what he wants the rest of the world to know about him, Paul said, “I have the best friends and family anyone could ask for.” He arrives fifth today in the chip count.
SEAT 4: Dan Nassif
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
Chip Count: 2,600,000
Dan Nassif is a 33-year-old account executive from St. Louis, Missouri. Dan took his vacation time away from work to enter and play in this year’s World Series. That certainly turned out to be a terrific decision. Not too many vacations pay the kind of money Dan is sure to make over this two-week period. Nassif has played fabulous poker in this championship event, although he has frequently been one of the shorter stacks at his table. He arrives with the biggest test of anyone today – ninth place in the chip count.
SEAT 5: Allen Cunningham
Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada
Chip Count: 17,770,000
Allen Cunningham is a 29-year-old professional poker player from Las Vegas, Nevada. He is easily the most accomplished poker player of today’s final nine. Allen has won four WSOP gold bracelets – for Seven-Card Stud in 2001, Deuce-to-Seven Lowball in 2002, No-Limit Hold’em in 2005, and another No-Limit Hold’em championship in 2006. Allen burst onto the poker scene back in 1998 as one of the young guns – along with Phil Ivey, Daniel Negreanu, Layne Flack, John Juanda, and others – who have collectively revolutionized the game of poker with their talent and ambition. A victory today would seal Cunningham’s place as perhaps the greatest player in the game today. He arrives second in the chip count.
SEAT 6: Michael Binger
Hometown: Atherton, California
Chip Count: 3,140,000
Michael Binger is a 29-year-old part-time poker pro originally from Delray Beach, Florida, who also has career ambitions as a theoretical physicist. He now lives in Atherton, California. Just two months ago, he earned his PhD in physics from Stanford University. This is the second year that Michael has played at the World Series. He made the final table of the $1500 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em event – finishing sixth and earning $100,000. Michael has a major challenge ahead of him today, as he arrives eighth in the chip count.
SEAT 7: Douglas Kim
Hometown: Martsdale, New York
Chip Count: 6,770,000
Doug Kim is a 22-year-old financial consultant from Martsdale, New York. He was born in Yonkers, New York. Doug recently graduated from Duke University with a degree in economics. He also enjoys video games when he is not playing poker. Doug primarily plays online poker. This is his first time ever to cash -- not just at the World Series -- but in a poker tournament. Doug arrives today sixth in the chip count.
SEAT 8: Jamie Gold
Hometown: Malibu, California
Chip Count: 25,650,000
Jamie Gold is a 36-year-old television producer from Malibu, California. He was born in New York City. Prior to running his own studio, Gold was a Hollywood agent with an impressive stable of talented actors -- including “The Sopranos” star James Gandolfini and “Desperate Housewives” co-star Felicity Huffman. Gold has also represented and credits much of his poker success to mentor Johnny Chan. This is Jamie’s 15th time to cash in a major poker tournament, and his first time ever to make it to a WSOP final table. He has been the most dominant player in the championship event over the past four days – and has been the chip leader since Day Three. Gold is dedicating himself to winning the world championship for his ailing father, who is in the late stages of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). He says, “I want to make him proud for the little time he has left.” Gold is the chip leader at today’s final table.
SEAT 9: Rhett Butler
Hometown: Rockville, Maryland
Chip Count: 4,815,000
Rhett Butler is a 44-year-old insurance agent from Rockville, Maryland. Originally from Baltimore, Rhett is married and has three children. He holds a college degree from James Madison University and has been playing poker for 25 years. Incredibly, this is his first time ever to cash in a poker tournament – and he’s now a millionaire. Rhett says proudly, “I’m playing in this tournament for my family and friends.” Or, as Clark Gable would say, “Frankly my dear – I DO give a damn.” Rhett Butler starts off seventh in the chip count.
PRIZE MONEY:
1st – $12,000,000
2nd – 6,102,499
3rd – 4,123,310
4th – 3,628,513
5th – 3,216,182
6th – 2,803,851
7th – 2,391,520
8th – 1,979,189
9th – 1,566,858
Note: All content in this report may be re-printed by media.
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World Series of Poker Commissioner – Jeffrey Pollack
Director, Sponsorship and Licensing -- Ty Stewart
Director, Communications and Operations – Gary Thompson
Director, Broadcasting and New Media – Craig Abrahams
Vice President of Specialty Gaming -- Howard Greenbaum
WSOP Tournament Director – Robert Daily
WSOP Tournament Director / Director of Poker Operations for Harrah’s Entertainment – Jack Effel
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