Gold secures WSOP and gold bracelet

Jamie Gold, the chip leader and one of the favourites to win this year's World Series of Poker (WSOP) at the Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, secured the title in dramatic fashion on Thursday night.

Heading into the final evening of competition, Gold was the chip leader by a substantial margin and throughout the duration of the final table of nine players, he only succeeded in expanding his stack, knocking out seven of the other eight players along the way.

For his trouble, Gold wins the $12 million first prize and secured the coveted gold bracelet, which signifies the competition winner each year. The 2006 WSOP Main Event bracelet features 170 handpicked, full-cut diamonds.

In securing his maiden title, Gold had enlisted the help of former champion Johnny Chan, one of the most well-respected and best known names in poker and Gold was quick to heap praise on his mentor.

"Johnny kept telling me every day that I was doing everything perfectly," Gold said.

"That's just his way of giving me confidence. He won't tell you, but he helped me so much. He doesn't realize how much."