WSOP 2014: Phil Ivey Captures 10th WSOP Bracelet

After an inauspicious start to WSOP 2014, Phil Ivey has finally achieved the breakthrough he’s been aiming for and won a 10th career WSOP bracelet. With two-thirds of the Series complete, the 38 year-old pro had recorded just two cashes worth $11,866, but on Friday Ivey managed to top a 485 player field at $1,500 Eight Game Mix (Event #50) to claim the title, as well as the $167,332 first place prize.
Following his remarkable performance, which now places him alongside Poker Hall of Famers Doyle Brunson and Johnny Chan in the all-time bracelet list, Ivey commented: ”
“Doyle is one of my poker idols. When I first came to Vegas and started playing in the big game, him and Chip were the guys I looked up to playing poker – so of course it’s meaningful tying him.”
On his way to victory, Ivey had to first outlast a tough field of pros, whose notable finishes included Greg Raymer in 40th ($3,497),  Brandon Cantu in 29th ($3,995), Martin Staszko in 26th ($4,723), and David Baker in 20th ($5,721).
At the final table, Daniel Negreanu subsequently bowed out in 9th place ($9,014), Stephen Chidwick in 5th ($30,488), and Aaron Steury in 4th ($44,286), before Phil Ivey went heads-up for the title against retired Florida Jeweler Bruce Yamron. As heads-up began, there was more at stake than simply the WSOP bracelet, however, as pre-WSOP 2014 Ivey and Negreanu had offered an even money prop bet that they would win a bracelet at some stage during the 65 game series.
Luckily for the two poker superstars Ivey was able to dispatch his last opponent to claim the title, and scoop what is believed to be a bumper payout. Winning the bracelet was even enough to make Negreanu breathe a sigh of relief, tweeting after the deed had been done:
“Phil Ivey just won!! If you owe me money I’ll be at Rio Sunday. Fun sweat all summer and my man got the job done. Phew!”
For his part, Ivey had just kind words to say about his heads-up opponent Bruce Yamron, stating: “The cards ran over me. Bruce is a very good friend of mine, we go back maybe 15 years. He’s one of my dearest, closest friends in poker, and I know he really wanted to win this bracelet. I got there in the end, but it could have gone either way head-up. I got the cards, he didn’t, and here I am with number ten.”
In addition to earning his 10th gold bracelet, Ivey also boosts his live tournament earnings to $21,431,317, just behind Negreanu in 2nd spot with 6 WSOP bracelets and $21,508,380. Top of the list is 2012 Big One for One Drop  champ Antonio Esfandiari, with 3 bracelets and $26,244,377 in winnings, $18,346,673 of which came from just that one tournament.