With a field of 8,773 and top prize of US$12,000,000, the 2006 World Series of Poker’s Main Event was truly larger than life. When the field was whittled down and the carnage was over, Hollywood agent and virtual long shot Jamie Gold was the cream that rose to the top.

It’s creeping up on this year’s event, which starts on June 1, 2007 in Las Vegas, and sports books are already taking action on who will win the World Championship No-Limit Texas Hold’em Event.

Jamie Gold won’t be under the radar this year—winning the Main Event will do that to you—and is being listed at +50,000 to repeat as champ.

Poker playing is common amongst the members of the Lederer family and brother Howard and sister Annie (now with the surname Duke) are listed at +25,000 and +50,000 respectively.

The biblical Jesus is known to save and the poker player nicknamed Jesus, aka Chris Ferguson, is listed at +20,000 to take a bracelet in the World Series of Poker’s Main Event.

Greg Raymer is looking to run for Vice President under the Libertarian ticket for 2008, in the meantime, “Fossilman” is listed at +30,000 to take the championship bracelet in 2007.

Chris Moneymaker, the man with quite possibly the best name in the tournament’s history—and who also took the championship title in 2003—is listed at +50,000 to live up to his name once again this year.

Jamie Gold didn’t win last year on sheer luck alone as he was trained by a man who is no stranger to the tournament. Johnny Chan took home titles in 1987 and 1988 and is listed at +25,000 to do the same in 2007.

Another beloved veteran of the tournament and poker personality, Doyle Brunson took home his last championship title in 1977 and books are laying 600-1 odds that he will accomplish the same feat some 30 years later.

A player who hasn’t taken home a championship title, at least not yet, is Daniel “Kid Poker” Negreanu. However Negreanu has been fairly successful in tournament play—winning two WPT events and three WSOP bracelets in other events—and is listed at +20,000 to take home his first this year.

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