#775 – 2009 WSOP #33 – Seen & Heard #10 – El Rey del Mundo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Phil Ivey won his seventh World Series bracelet – his second in ten days – in the $2,500 OEOB/SEOB last night. Apart from the obvious newsworthiness of this accomplishment, consider the following questions:

1. How is Phil Ivey going to get action on ANYTHING anymore?

2. Does this now mean Phil Hellmuth will permanently give up trying to create a legacy as the best poker player of all time?

3. How much does Ivey even care about all this? I work for Full Tilt and I can’t get an interview with him. The World Series of Poker media director, Nolan Dalla, who works about 23 hours a day during the Series, had to use quotes from a 2005 bracelet interview when he won bracelet no. 6 on June 4. It’s not that Ivey is rude – he just doesn’t care. Thankfully for Nolan, Phil gave him a few comments this time.

FOR THE RECORD

These are the comments Phil Ivey shared shortly after winning his seventh bracelet last night:

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.

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