| The 2006 Tournament of Champions featured a | | | | final table cut. |
| $2,000,000 prize pool and 27 of the top | | | | |
| players in the World Series of Poker | | | | On the second day, play began at 1:00 p.m. |
| competition. 9 came from the 2005 World | | | | for the 10 who sat down at the final table. |
| Series of Poker Main Event, 12 came from the | | | | Once the tournament officials raised the |
| winners of the World Series of Poker Circuit | | | | chips of everyone 10x and the blinds as well, |
| Tournament Main Events that have been held | | | | eliminations began taking place as Andrew |
| throughout the year and six additional | | | | Black sent Gus Hansen home in 10th place when |
| players who received exemptions were invited | | | | Andrew's pocket 9's held up to Gus's A K. Gus |
| to the competition. It is a freeroll | | | | was soon followed by Daniel Bergsdorf in 9th |
| tournament for those who will be playing. So | | | | and Kido Pham in 8th. Chris Ferguson left in |
| this means that the 9 from last year's World | | | | 7th when his pocket 6's were overcome by the |
| Series of Poker final table were champion | | | | pocket 8's of Darrell Dicken after the board |
| Joseph Hachem along with Steven Dannenmann, | | | | showed no more help to either player. But the |
| John Barch, Aaron Kanter, Andrew Black, Scott | | | | victory was not for long as Darrell Dicken |
| Lazar, Daniel Bergsdorf, Brad Kondracki and | | | | was sent packing in 6th place, courtesy of |
| Mike Matusow (who was last year's Tournament | | | | WPT announcer Mike Sexton. Next one out in |
| of Champions winner). The 12 from the WSOP | | | | 5th was Andrew Black (K 9) after his all-in |
| Circuit Tournament Main Events are Gregg | | | | bet was called by Mike Matusow who held |
| Merkow, Chris Ferguson, Vinnie Vinh, Thang | | | | pocket K's after nothing else helped either |
| "Kido" Pham, Chris Reslock, Daniel Negreanu, | | | | player. Then Mike Sexton helped Chris Reslock |
| Abraham Korotki, Darrell "Gigabet" Dicken, | | | | away from the table in 4th position. Mike |
| Jeffrey King, John Spadavecchia, Peter | | | | Matusow who won this event last year, ended |
| Feldman and Clint Baskin. The mystery six | | | | up going out in 3rd place, capping an |
| additional players who received sponsorship | | | | excellent level of performance this |
| exemptions are Phil Hellmuth Jr., Mike | | | | tournament. This left Mike Sexton and Daniel |
| O'Malley, Doyle Brunson, Mike Sexton, Sarah | | | | Negreanu alone for the heads up battle that |
| Strom and Gus Hansen. So this event had all | | | | lasted 6 hrs and 45 min. |
| the ingredients needed to be very hot. And it | | | | |
| was filmed by ESPN so you can see it in the | | | | This was a very interesting heads up when you |
| future. The prize to the winner is | | | | consider that one World Poker Tour champion, |
| $1,000,000. | | | | Daniel Negreanu, ended up playing against a |
| | | | person who has made a career watching and |
| For Day 1 the blinds started off at $25/$50 | | | | studying every hand the champion has played |
| with 90 minute levels. Tournament play began | | | | in WPT competition. But someone had to win. |
| at 12:35 p.m. with each player having 10,000 | | | | The hand of victory went as follows, Sexton |
| chips each. Action got off to a solid start | | | | limped in and Negreanu raised which was |
| as Abe Korotki was the first to go when his | | | | followed with a re raise from Sexton. |
| pocket 5's couldn't hold up to the full house | | | | Negreanu calls and the flop shows 10d 8d 4s. |
| Daniel Negreanu produced. On a side note, | | | | Negreanu went all in holding Qh Jh which was |
| Mike Matusow promised to wear tape over his | | | | immediately called by Sexton who was |
| mouth the entire World Series if Chris | | | | holding....pocket A's. Turn card was an A, |
| Ferguson shaves his head. No word on any | | | | river was an 8c giving Mike Sexton 3 of a |
| response from Chris Ferguson. He was too busy | | | | kind and the championship! |
| sending Phil Hellmuth Jr. to the rail with | | | | |
| his pocket A's. Negreanu eliminated both Joe | | | | What made this win the icing on the cake for |
| Hachem and Steve Dannenmann on the same hand. | | | | Mike Sexton is that he created the Tournament |
| And Kido Pham with pocket Q's said good bye | | | | of Champions in 1998 in order to promote the |
| to Scott Lazar (A K) when the board showed 8 | | | | sport. The victory marks Sexton's second WSOP |
| 7 5 4 5, giving Pham two pair. Day 1 ended | | | | bracelet. He won the Seven Card Stud High Low |
| around 11:45 p.m. with 10 players making the | | | | event in 1989. |