Phil Ivey is considered one of the best in the game today by fellow poker players. If he wins the World Series of Poker in 2005 everyone else will think so as well. He is currently lying 2nd in the Championship, with only 27 players remaining. He has certainly put himself in position to win, and unquestionably is the most talented player still in the field, no disrespect to either Raymer or Matusow.
In 2002 Ivey exploded onto the tournament poker scene when he captured no less than 3 titles at that year's WSOP. He matched Ted Forrest and Phil Hellmuth as the only players in the history of the event to take home that many bracelets in one year. People started comparing Ivey to Tiger Woods, but like golf poker is an almost impossible pursuit in which to attain dominance. Ivey is one of the best poker players in the world, and he often puts himself in position to win, but like Woods has found it is impossible to cash in as the winner on a weekly basis.
Phil Ivey also has two final table appearances at World Poker Tour events, and he is well remembered for a shocking bad beat that he suffered at the hands of the very fortunate Chris Moneymaker. That was at the televised table in the WSOP Main Event in 2003. Ivey was cruising along when Moneymaker broke him on the river with a suck-out for the ages. Ivey finished 11th but we always knew he would be back, and Ivey has an excellent chance of winning the 2005 World Series of Poker.
You can now challenge Phil Ivey directly, playing against him online at Full Tilt Poker.
