In one of the "so crazy it must be true" stories coming out of the 2009 World Series of Poker television coverage comes this story from last night's ESPN coverage: Phil Ivey mucks a winner. With just 26 players to go, Phil Ivey was in a heads up showdown with 2.5 million in the pot. Here's how the hand played out:

Phil Ivey could not catch a break on Day 8 and when he did, he mucked the winning hand. In the sure-to-be-legendary hand in question, Ivey opened pocket eights from under-the-gun for 320,000. The action folded around to Jordan Smith, who three-bet to 1,000,000 straight from the big blind. Ivey called and they saw a flop. Both players checked and the fell on the turn. Check-check again. The river was the -- check-check a third time. Smith opened up his for aces up, but Ivey mucked his spade flush, clearly not realizing he held the .

If it turns out that Phil Ivey doesn't win the bracelet in this 2009 World Series of Poker Main Event, this could turn out to be exactly why. A small mental mistake could end up costing Ivey literally millions of dollars.

Read More...

Posted under world series of poker

Phil Ivey has reached a pinnacle that no other poker player* has reached before, he is going to be on the cover of ESPN the Magazine. The magazine will also feature an in-depth look at the life of Phil Ivey and showing a side of him that many have not seen.

The magazine article will spotlight a side of Ivey that has not been exposed to the public, since he prefers to avoid publicity and concentrate on his poker game rather than being a celebrity and appearing on the headlines of the most important media sources.

Phil was kind enough to let the ESPN writer into his day to day life and experience the treatment that the best poker player in the world received in casinos world wide. They flew in Ivey’s private jet to some exotic locations were Phil did his thing.

But the article delves deeper than the great life that Phil has and into the top notch skills that Phil displays on the poker table. Ivey says that his level of play involves more psychological state of mind than mathematical. He can pick-up on tells that a regular person would not notice.

This should be a great article and I look forward to checking it out when it hits news stands on November 2nd.

The question is: will Phil Ivey being smiling on the cover? Or will he have his trademark poker scowl face?

Read More...

Posted under Personal life

In the latest "Life of Ivey" video Barry Greenstein catches up with Phil Ivey as he prepares for the World Series of Poker November Nine in Cabo. Ivey is staying in Cabo until the WSOP and is on a "strict schedule" of yoga, cardio, weights and golf. He's staying at an amazing place in Cabo and you should check out the video embedded below to check it out.

There is still a chance to win a piece of Phil Ivey playing in the WSOP. If you aren't already a member of Full Tilt Poker click this button to sign up. If you are a member, what are you waiting for? Get to the tables!

Posted under Life of Ivey

As we all know Phil Ivey made the final table of the 2009 World Series of Poker. As we gear up for the final table of the main event Full Tilt Poker is offering you a piece of Phil Ivey. What does that mean? When you buy a piece of someone in a tournament you get a portion of their winnings. If they don't place in the money, you get nothing. Phil Ivey is guaranteed a minimum of $1.26 MILLION dollars. Talk about betting on a sure thing. Full Tilt is offering two options for it's members to get a piece of Ivey.

5% of Ivey

The top prize at this year’s WSOP Main Event is $8.5 million. Play for your chance to win a seat in a special nine-player Sit & Go, where prize money equal to 5% of Phil Ivey’s Main Event winnings is up for grabs.

1% of Ivey

Win a seat in an exclusive Freeroll to play for your share of a $50,000 prize pool. In addition to first-place prize money, the winner will be awarded prize money equal to 1% of Phil Ivey’s Main Event winnings.

5% of 1st place would be $427,321.75 not bad for watching Phil Ivey play poker. If you aren't already a member of Full Tilt Poker click this button to sign up. If you are a member, what are you waiting for? Get to the tables!

Posted under world series of poker

This is kind of a weird story coming out of the WSOPE. Phil Ivey decided to take a break from playing poker to check out a Coldplay concert. That part is no surprise. What's surprising is how he got there. From PokerNews:

In London for the World Series of Poker Europe, Phil Ivey decided the city traffic and the underground tube were just not an option, and music mogul Chris Gotti decided it was well worth it to hire a 16-passenger helicopter to take them to Wembley Stadium for a Coldplay concert.

According to the New York Post, the chopper landed in a nearby park where children were playing. Gotti told the newspaper "The kids went crazy and rushed over. They thought we were Jay-Z."

I've said once and I'll say it again, Phil Ivey rules.

Read More...

Posted under Personal life