BY TOM SOMACH

It won’t all be smooth sailing for the winner of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) main event.

Much in the same way it’s become a jinx to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated or a John Madden videogame, since the poker boom began in 2003 it’s become a jinx to win the WSOP main event.

That’s right–something bad has happened to every WSOP main event winner since an unknown accountant with the unlikely last name of Moneymaker qualified for the WSOP by winning an online tournament, and then went on to win the WSOP, sparking a worldwide poker boom.

To wit:

CHRIS MONEYMAKER–Tennessee accountant won the WSOP main event in 2003. A few months later, longtime wife divorces him, gets half his WSOP winnings.

GREG “FOSSILMAN” RAYMER–Connecticut patent attorney and dinosaur buff won the WSOP main event in 2004. A few months later, as he carries a huge wad of cash back to his Bellagio hotel room after playing some high-stakes poker, a trio of armed bandits tries to rob him in a hallway. He fights them off, narrowly escaping death.

JOE HACHEM–Lebanese chiropractor living in Australia won the WSOP main event in 2005. Soon after, he starts receiving death threats, and has to move himself and his family to a secret location.

JAMIE GOLD–California television producer won the WSOP main event in 2006. Immediately after, an acquaintance sues him for half his WSOP winnings, saying Gold reneged on an agreement to split the $12 million top prize. Gold settles out of court, loses big chunk of prize.

Will the trend continue with this year’s WSOP main event winner?

Only time will tell!

(E-mail Tom Somach at tomsomach@yahoo.com.)