We are used to reading about Phil Ivey on Poker News, ESPN and dozens of other poker and sports sites, but this is the first time we can remember reading about Phil Ivey on TMZ. Paris Hilton, he's not. Here's the lowdown:

Phil Ivey -- one of the most dominant professional poker players in the world -- isn't suited for marriage ... dude was just granted a divorce from his wife Luciaetta.

Ivey and Luciaetta filed the joint petition in a Nevada court on December 22 ... three days before Christmas. The divorce was granted today -- both parties were present for the ruling.

This comes as a bit of a surprise, but at least it doesn't sound like Phil was living up to his "Tiger Woods of Poker" moniker. Sometimes high school sweethearts just grow apart. It's called life. We wish them both the best.

Posted under Personal life

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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.

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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?

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Posted under Personal life