More on Phil Ivey

From official WSOP reports … (with a WSOP historical info, Phil Ivey bio stuff, and post-game interview):

The Winner —

· The 2009 World Series of Poker $2,500 buy-in Omaha High-Low Split / Seven-Card Stud High-Low Split champion is Phil Ivey, from Las Vegas, NV.

· Ivey collected $220,538 for first place. He was also awarded his seventh WSOP gold bracelet.

· With this victory, Ivey joins Billy Baxter with seven WSOP titles, which ranks sixth on the all-time wins list. Remaining ahead of Ivey are Phil Hellmuth (11 wins), Doyle Brunson (10 wins), Johnny Chan (10 wins), Johnny Moss (9 wins), and Erik Seidel (8 wins).

· According to the official records, Ivey now has 7 wins, 19 final table appearances, and 33 in-the-money finishes at the WSOP.

· Ivey currently has $3,439,386 in WSOP winnings.

· Ivey won three of his WSOP gold bracelets at the 2002 WSOP.

· Ivey has never won a WSOP gold bracelet in Hold’em.

Previously Posted Biographical Material on Phil Ivey —

· Ivey is one of the world’s best-known and most-respected poker players. He is one of the rare few players who excels at both tournaments and cash games.

· Ivey is 32-years old. He is married to wife Luciaetta.

· Ivey has become a near mythological figure in the poker world and is unquestionably one of the game’s most enigmatic personalities. Considered by many to be the most publicity-shy poker star in the world, he rarely gives out interviews or reveals much about his private life. Yet the further Ivey runs away from the spotlight, the more it seems to shine upon him. Ivey’s numerous wagering exploits – many unfathomable to the average person — have become part of the popular modern folklore, making it difficult at time to separate fact from fiction.

· Ivey routinely makes stratospheric-sized prop and sports bets. He reportedly bet $1 million on last year’s Super Bowl. He won.

· Ivey was born in California, and moved to New Jersey at a very young age. He began playing Seven-Card Stud daily in Atlantic City casinos. By the time Ivey was in his early 20s, he was already acknowledged as one of the East Coast’s best cash game players. At the time, opponents used the words “prodigy” and “savant” to describe Ivey.

· Ivey’s “poker office” was the Trump Taj Mahal until the age of 24, when he moved to Las Vegas. He then started playing tournament poker and gradually attained superstar status. In his first-ever WSOP gold bracelet victory in 2000 and perhaps emblematic of poker’s generational and cultural shift, Ivey defeated legend “Amarillo Slim” Preston in heads-up play. That marked Ivey’s first-ever final table appearance, and Slim’s last.

· In a previous post-tournament interview after winning WSOP gold bracelet number five (2005), Ivey stated: “I think I can win thirty (gold bracelets). Tournaments are much tougher to win now because the fields are (so big). I don’t play as many tournaments for that reason, but I still think I can get to 30.”

· To get to 30 gold bracelets, based on the average life expectancy of a healthy American male aged 32-years old (according to actuarial tables), he would have to win a WSOP event about once every 1.5 years.

· Ivey insists that he does not want to be famous. He has no desire to be a celebrity. Ivey has told those who know him best that what he enjoys most is competing and winning. He is driven by a fierce obsession to win and succeed in everything he does. Ivey’s other pursuits include golf. He started out playing only a few years ago and is reportedly close to be a scratch golfer.

Winner Quotes (Phil Ivey) —

Verbatim interview conducted at 12:20 am with Phil Ivey, about 15 minutes after winning his seventh WSOP gold bracelet:

Question: The first question you were asked last time was, ‘How does it feel to win gold bracelet number six?’ You answered, ‘Well, it’s one closer to number seven.’ Now, you’ve got number seven….

Ivey: Now, it’s one closer to Erik.

Question: Erik?

Ivey: Seidel.

Question: Is there some personal wager going between you and Erik Seidel?

Ivey: No, there’s nothing personal between me and him. It’s nice to catch people. This is poker history, as you like to say. And so, to have the chance to catch someone like Erik who is (fifth) in the bracelets, to get into his category would be nice.

Question: Many people may not understand the culture that you run around in, with all the stars and wagers that go on between you. Are there rivalries that take place between all of you for bracelets?

Ivey: Well, before last year I pretty skipped a couple of years at the World Series. I didn’t play in as many tournaments as I used to because I figured, it’s doesn’t really make much difference, you know. But then, as I started getting older I started to realize this does matter. Winning bracelets, it does matter. Just having the chance to put myself in poker history and I know I have the chance to win and be the all-time bracelet leader if I can continue at this pace. So, I’m looking forward to the opportunity.

Question: How cool would it be to get to number 12 before Phil Hellmuth makes it?

Ivey: That’s a long way away. That’s a long way from now, so we’ll worry about that when the time comes.

Question: Last year, I think most poker fans were aware you had side action going on how well you would perform. But it was not a year up to Phil Ivey standards. By contrast, this is turning into a pretty good Series for you. Did you do anything different this year, either preparation wise or mentally?
Ivey: I think (last year) I really wasn’t into it. I don’t know, I am just feeling good right now. I think last year I had a lot of distractions, especially in my personal life. And there were a lot of things going on outside of poker. I wasn’t able to focus as well. Also, I think I am a better tournament player now than I was a year ago.

Question: How can you say that?

Ivey: I think I am a little more patient. I take my time. I’m trying in every pot. I’m trying to stay focused and recognize that every pot does matter. I think (before) I was making major mistakes than ended up costing me the tournament. It would cost me chips in a tournament. This year I am not making as many mistakes.

Question: In both of your wins this year, you were in third place at one point-during three-handed play. Many players might have given up in those spots. How were you able to overcome those kinds of disadvantages?
Ivey: Really, when you get down to the end and the blinds and antes are so high, most of the hands play themselves. I was fortunate in a couple of spots where I made full houses and got paid off because (Lee) had a flush or a straight. That’s just the way poker goes.

Question: There are still 32 more events to go at this year’s WSOP. What’s the Over/Under on your next victory.

Ivey: Tomorrow.