Rants from the Rio -- Double Trouble, Ivey Epilogue

Check out Rants from the Rio for a weekly wrap up of all things going down at the 40th annual World Series of Poker. This is where you can find insight about the side stories, records, and general madness of the WSOP that doesn’t make it into live updates and tournament reports.

Author’s Note — On June 11, Rants from the Rio – Double Trouble, touched on some of the players at the 2009 WSOP that had either made two final-table appearances or won two bracelets. Well, a lot can happen in three days at the Rio, so thanks to Phil Ivey here is an extended epilogue to Double Trouble…

Phil Ivey won his second bracelet of the summer on June 14 with a victory at the final table of event No. 25 ($2,500 Omaha eight-or-better/seven-card stud eight-or-better) and took home $220,538. He won his first bracelet on June 4 with a victory at event No. 8 ($2,500 no-limit deuce-to-seven lowball) and took home $96,361. In between, Ivey made a deep run in event No. 13 ($2,500 no-limit hold’em) and cashed in 18th place for $18,467. That WSOP prize money pales in comparison to the most speculated-upon number in poker…the millions of dollars he has made in side bets thanks to the two bracelet victories. All of a sudden Ivey-vs.-the-field bets don’t sound that far-fetched and every poker player in the world has to feel like Shooter McGavin when he discovered that Happy Gilmore learned how to putt.

Phil Ivey = Most Feared Player in Poker

Phil Ivey with Millions of Reasons to be Motivated = Be Afraid…Be Very Afraid

The cover of the June 15, 2009 Sports Illustrated features a photo of Roger Federer playing in the 2009 French Open, which he won to complete a career Grand Slam. The title of the cover story – “Is He the Greatest of All Time?”

Poker fans everywhere are asking themselves that very same question right now about Ivey. The win gives Ivey seven bracelets, which puts him in a sixth-place tie on the all-time bracelet list with Billy Baxter. Ivey is just 32-years old and there are now only five players in history that have won more bracelets.

Doyle Brunson will always be the Babe Ruth of poker, but Ivey is the heir to the throne. He is the Tiger/Federer/Jordan of poker, a dominant competitor with raw talent and the hardware to match. It feels like we are currently watching Ivey’s master stroke, so just sit back and enjoy the ride. He could very well match the three bracelets he won in 2002. Are four bracelets in one year a possibility? If Ivey accomplishes that then he might very well grace a Sports Illustrated cover. Wishful thinking…yes, but Ivey is the only poker player that has a shot at that kind of publicity. If only he wanted it.

For now Ivey joins Brock Parker as the second double-bracelet winner at the 2009 WSOP, and he headlines a growing group of players that have made multiple final tables. The 2009 WSOP Player of the Year race is going to be a fight to the finish.

2009 WSOP Double Trouble Club (Through Event No. 26):

Phil Ivey: 2 Final Tables (2 Bracelets)
Brock Parker: 2 Final Tables (2 Bracelets)
Ville Wahlbeck: 3 Final Tables (1 Bracelet)
Steve Sung: 2 Final Tables (1 Bracelet)
Panayote Vilandos: 2 Final Tables (1 Bracelet)
Daniel Negreanu: 2 Final Tables
John Monnette: 2 Final Tables
Jim Geary: 2 Final Tables