A total of 60 players turned out for the first ever Jamie Gold Charity Tournament held during London’s Poker in the Park, hosted by Gold and 2008 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event Champion Peter Eastgate. In the end, Swedish poker pro Mikael Gabrielsson took down the gala, which featured a reduced $400 buy-in.
Poker News Daily: We know you were shooting for David Craig to turn out. Tell us about the scene at your charity poker tournament.
Gold: Daniel Craig didn’t come, but we invited him. Bluff Magazine brought a few people. Michael Greco brought a soccer player named Teddy Sheringham. Out there, he’s bigger than a movie star. He was very kind and really nice.
PND: Are there any interesting stories you could share?
Gold: Peter Eastgate was obviously the big draw. He donated the shoes, hat, and shirt he wore when he won the Main Event. I felt so bad that I bought his shirt and gave it back to him.
PND: The buy-in was originally scheduled to be the equivalent of $800, but was ultimately cut in half. Can you tell us about the decision?
Gold: It felt like people were having such a hard time in this economy, especially poker players. We ended up having about 60 to 70 players total. They brought in a few more tables and we took a few alternates. Before we lowered the buy-in, we would have been fine. Once it was the day of the event, though, we felt uneasy. You could see that people really wanted to play, but couldn’t afford it. Once we lowered the buy-in, everyone started telling friends and it sold out right away.
PND: Eastgate was subdued following his 2008 Main Event win. Has he become more open?
Gold: Eastgate mentioned during his talk during Poker in the Park that he doesn’t speak English that well. Try going to another country, speaking their language, and know you’re being filmed the whole time. There is a lot of pressure on this guy. You only have certain responsibilities to be an ambassador of the game. I wouldn’t say one of those is being a public speaker. You can tell he’s not comfortable in the spotlight, which is not a bad thing. Peter could not be a nicer, more generous guy and he loves to play poker. People throw questions at him constantly and he describes himself as an introvert.
PND: Despite your busy schedule, we’re sure you’ve had a chance to check out the 2009 WSOP November Nine. What are your thoughts on this year’s group?
Gold: Phil Ivey has been kind towards me and I’d like to see him win it. It’s not like we’re close, but I respect his game so much. As a fan, I’d love to see him win it. I have a feeling that if I got to know a lot of them, I’d want them to win. I like Jeff Shulman a lot too.
PND: Speaking of Shulman, what are your thoughts on his threats to throw away the WSOP Main Event bracelet should he win?
Gold: It is what it is. I’ve only had good interactions with him, so I wouldn’t be upset if he won. He’s worked hard at it and put in so much time. It’s not like he doesn’t deserve it.
PND: Do you think you could have pulled out a win with a delayed final table?
Gold: I’d like to think that I would have still won. I could have been with Johnny Chan getting coached, for example, during the break. I’m not sure how I could have played much better in 2006 and maybe coaching would have taken my bravado away.
PND: What was your reaction to hearing that the final table of the Main Event would be pushed back in order to coincide with its television airing on ESPN?
Gold: I understood completely. It’s a business; it’s not just a game. The people who are running it are smart, sharp business people. It was getting smaller and smaller and the excitement level was getting less and less. It wasn’t a bad move. From a pure poker player perspective, it’s never good to delay the final table of a tournament. If I were one of the ones who had made the final table, it would have been a really exciting four months. You get a check for $1 million and then do your own thing.
PND: Will you be involved in the final table of the WSOP Main Event this year in some capacity?
Gold: Last year, they invited us and gave us front row seats, introduced us to the crowd, and made us feel like a part of the process. The WSOP executives make us feel like we’re part of the family. It’s nice and also smart on their behalf. Keeping the history of the WSOP alive is very smart. I can’t imagine a poker fan that doesn’t love at least one Main Event winner. I’m always happy to be a part of it.
