Jeff Madsen Takes Event #31 for Fourth Bracelet
Jeff Madsen burst onto the poker consciousness at the 2006 World Series of Poker, winning two bracelets and more than $1.3 million en route Player of the Year honors at the tender age of 21. Madsen has since proven he is no flash in the pan, and he claimed his fourth bracelet by winning Event #31: $3,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Low.
He topped a field of 480 runners and took $301,413 in prize money, but Madsen said the money is secondary to him.
“I think the competition has always been more important to me,” he said. “Money is a part of poker, obviously, but I like tournaments for the thrill of competition, and bracelets and cashes show the record of your career. I'm just fortunate to be in this spot.”
Madsen had to contend with an unofficial final table that included Rami Boukai[ (third place), John O'Shea (sixth), David “ODB” Baker (eighth), and Mike Gracz (10th). Heads up, Madsen faced off with Frenchman Jean Marc Thomas, with Madsen beginning play up almost 2-1 on Thomas, which he increased to a 5-1 lead eventually.
However, Thomas was able to double up twice to give Madsen a sweat, the second one coming when he got a set of jacks in on a 
flop against Madsen's 
and hit runner aces to make a boat. Madsen was finally able to end things with a preflop all in holding 
against 
when he flopped trip sixes and held against the nut low draw.
| Place | Player | Hometown | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeff Madsen | Los Angeles, CA | $301,413 |
| 2 | Jean Marc Thomas | France | $186,548 |
| 3 | Rami Boukai | San Diego, CA | $123,976 |
| 4 | Richard Tucker | Charlotte, NC | $92,003 |
| 5 | Sun Kwak | Hicksville, NY | $69,044 |
| 6 | Josh O'Shea | Churchtown, Ireland | $52,324 |
| 7 | Huarong Ma | Palatine, IL | $40,006 |
| 8 | David “ODB” Baker | Katy, TX | $30,883 |
| 9 | Spencer Chen | West Hollywood, CA | $23,941 |