To borrow the theme of Survivor (and mangling it a little) Joseph Hachem outwitted, outplayed and definitely OUTLASTED a field of 5,619 to win the 2005 World Series of Poker.

Hachem won the title on a seven high straight over Steve Dannenmann's two pair at 6:45 this morning, culminating a final table that started at 4 PM yesterday. This after Thursday's session to get down to the final table lasted til 3 AM.

Hachem receives $7.5 million for working the night shift, while Dannenmann takes home a measly $4.25 mill. All 9 players who made the final table won a million in prize money.

[ July 16, 2005, 09:09 AM: Message edited by: Breesboy ]

Thank God Mike the Mouth didn't win.

Think the WSOP main event couldn't get any bigger? This year saw 8,771 people put their 10 K in the pot, so much that "Day 1" lasted 4 days and "Day 2" lasted 2. This year's winner will receive nearly $12 million.

Defending champion Joe Hachem was eliminated earlier today, finishing in the Top 300. As for pros, I'm sure the ESPN heads are now Annie Duke fans. Of the remaining 214 players, Duke stands 23rd overall.

[ August 05, 2006, 08:10 PM: Message edited by: Boltergeist ]

The final table is set at 2006 with a couple players of interest.

Chip leader Jamie Gold was an LA talent agent who learned the game under 10-time bracelet winner Johnny Chan.

Allen Cunningham, 2nd in chips, was the 2005 WSOP player of the year, awarded to the player who performed the best over the whole Series.

One other big story, David Einhorn, bowed out in 18th place. Einhorn pledged all his winnings in the main event for Parkinson's Disease research, and had he made the final table he was going to have a celebrity rooting him on: Michael J. Fox.

Payouts for the top 9

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

[ August 09, 2006, 08:41 AM: Message edited by: Boltergeist ]