Current Tendency for the Latest WSOP Winners
Speculating about who will win the 2007 WSOP is more or less pointless, given the fantastic numbers of entrants in last years main events. But it's also quite funny, and surely someone is bound to win.
Let's walk through last years winners and see how they've been doing lately in the world of international poker competition.
Robert Varkonyi 2002
Just like Chris Moneymaker, Robert Varkonyi has had some trouble getting the due respect of his peers after winning the WSOP main event in 2002. However, he's been writing columns for Card Player Magazine and also produced an instructional poker video. Varkonyi hasn't had any more WSOP in-the-money finishes since his 2002 victory, and hasn't won any other important events. During the last year he's had three in-the-money finishes, totaling $14,000 of prize money. With that, he's definitely not out of the picture in WSOP 2007. Many players come to play with much less than that in their crime sheets.Chris Moneymaker 2003
Chris Moneymaker was the unknown internet qualifier who won because he was so lucky. That's what people said, and that's the image he's had a hard time shaking off. However, many poker players estimate that Moneymaker is a decent poker player, a claim that his second finish in the 2004 Bay 101 Shooting Star may seem to be backing up. Moreover, who hasn't seen the replay of his big bluff against Sammy Farha in the main event heads-up final? In WSOP 2006, Moneymaker placed in the money in a $1,500 limit holdem shootout event, and he has a couple of money finishes in minor events since then. Except for that, his credibility since 2003 is slowly fading and he'd need a really strong result to bend the tendency upwards again.Greg Raymer 2004
When entering the 2004 WSOP main event, Greg Fossilman Raymer wasn't a well-known pro but he certainly was no novice to heavy-duty live poker, being a regular in his home casino in Foxwoods, Massachusetts, and already having a number of respectable in-the-money finishes under his belt, including a 12th place in a WSOP $1,500 Omaha hi/lo event. Since his championship victory, Raymer has made it into the money in WSOP and WPT events a total of seven times, including a WSOP final table. He's traveled the world as a much appreciated ambassador for poker, and has published a long list of columns in a range of publications and web places. Greg Raymer must not be overlooked when you fill in your WSOP line.Joe Hachem 2005
Joe Hachem had a long list of money finishes in Australian competitions before winning WSOP 2005, and actually took a 10th place in the 2005 WSOP just a couple of days prior to the main event. He traveled the world as a popular and proud representative for the game of poker during the year following his victory. His results since winning the 2005 WSOP are pretty impressive as well. He has four in-the-money finishes in WSOP (two final tables) and two in WPT, including a first place in WPT Doyle Brunson North American Poker Classic in December, 2006, pocketing a good $2 million. Hachem is a really strong card in this summer's competition.Jamie Gold 2006
Since winning the 2006 WSOP, Jamie Gold's life has been a long run between damage claims, court hearings and media appearances. Giving away a piece of yourself as payment for marketing assistance might seem innocuous when you're just a regular guy, albeit with a few in-the-money places behind you. But once you hit it big time and win the elusive amount of $12 million, having to fulfill your promises of sharing 50-50 might seem beyond reason. That's actually quite understandable. Gold hasn't shown any poker results worth mentioning since his WSOP victory. On the other hand, it's not of old age and the aftermath has surely been a taxing experience. Now, with the legal controversy put aside, Gold might be hungry and ready to focus on poker again, and he certainly has a steady bankroll to lean on.
