Phil Ivey And The 2014 WSOP: Is He In Or Is He Out?

Written by:
Thomas Somach
Published on:
May/29/2014
Phil Ivey And The 2014 WSOP:  Is He In Or Is He Out?

Hamlet famously once asked, "To be or not to be?"

For the folks who run the World Series of Poker (WSOP), the question seems to be, "Ivey or not Ivey?"

That's Ivey as in Philip Dennis Ivey Jr.--Phil to his pals--one of the best professional poker players on the planet.

And one of the most controversial.

Three years ago, Ivey skipped the WSOP for the first time in his career because he was involved in a huge controversy.

Full Tilt Poker, an online poker room that he promoted and partially owned, had stiffed thousands of its customers out of millions of dollars.

Ivey himself had even sued the parent company of the online room--a firm called Tiltware--because he had stopped receiving the monthly seven-figure checks he was being paid to flack for Full Tilt.

In boycotting the 2011 WSOP, Ivey, who's won nine WSOP championship gold bracelets in his career, claimed he was doing it to protest Full Tilt Poker's treatment of its customers.

Scroll Down to Read More...

Those in the know, however, easily saw through the ruse--it was widely suspected that Ivey stiffed the WSOP because he didn't want to show up in a very public place and have to potentially be confronted by some of the customers owed monies by Ivey's online poker site.

That notion was bolstered after several angry confrontations did occur at the '11 WSOP between Full Tilt customers and other poker pros who shilled for Full Tilt, including Jame Bord threatening Full Tilt flack John Juanda on the main floor at the Rio casino and having to be restrained by security.

Now, three years later, it's 2014 and Phil Ivey is involved in another huge controversy and huge lawsuit (actually it's two suits over similar matters).

He's been accused of winning money playing bacarrat and a similar card game at two different casinos by employing the controversial card-playing technique known as edge-sorting, which is similar to card counting in blackjack and which may or may not be cheating (a court will eventually have to decide).

Ivey won huge sums recently executing the scheme at a casino in London, England, and at the Borgata casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA.

The London casino, suspecting foul play, refused to pay Ivey his winnings so he is suing them for it.

The Borgata, on the other hand, did pay him, but now that it's realized how he did it, is suing him for the money back.

Not being someone who likes to show his face in public when he's involved in lawsuits and controversy, members of the worldwide poker community have been wondering whether Ivey would show up at this year's WSOP and, most importantly, play in the WSOP Main Event and try to win his first Main Event bracelet.

So Gambling911.com on Wednesday Caught up with Seth Palansky, the vice-president for corporate communications for Caesars and the official spokesman for the WSOP, to find out what's up on the Ivey beat.

"He's currently sitting in sixth place in chips in the $25,000 buy-in Mixed Max No-Limit Texas Hold 'em Tournament, which is World Series of Poker Event #2," Palansky told Gambling911.com. "It was the first eligible event he could play.

"I have no idea if he's playing in the Main Event, though I would guess yes. He should be a regular on the poker felt here this summer."

Ivey eventually busted out in the tourney and finished in 18th place.

The event, which is still underway, drew 131 participants and has a prize pool of just over $3 million.

But just the fact that Ivey has shown up for an early WSOP is good news for the WSOP and its upcoming Main Event, which kicks off in July and which appears now that Ivey will participte in.

All is not rosy, however.

The WSOP Main Event has experienced a steady decline in participation over the past few years.

So how is the Main Event shaping up for this year, and who can poker fans expect to see competing in it?

"We will definitely have more participants in the WSOP Main Event this year than last year," Palansky told Gambling911.com. "We're guaranteeing the winner $10 million. Where else can you earn 1,000 times your investment in 10 days?

"But in terms of sign-ups, we won't know until July 7," he continued. "Poker players don't part with their money until they have to. That means right now I couldn't tell you who is signed up. But it's always a great turnout for this event we're very bullish that this one will be very successful."

Another question on everyone's mind is whether poker legend Doyle "Texas Dolly" Brunson will participate in this year's WSOP Main Event.

Now in his mid-80s, unable to walk without a crutch and frequently in a wheelchair, rumors circulate every year that he either won't show up for the Main Event or it will be his last one.

Last year, Brunson announced he wouldn't be making the WSOP, but he did eventually show up for a few events, but not nearly as many as he usually plays in.

But, so far, no word from the talkative Texan on whether he plans to make the WSOP scene this time around.

By Tom Somach

Gambling911.com Staff Writer

tomsomach@yahoo.com

Syndicate