Phil Ivey was always facing an uphill battle at this year’s WSOP Main Event final as he was low in chips right from the start and desperate for a double up. Unfortunately for him, when his opportunity arose and he was all-in holding AK against Darvin Moon’s AQ, fate dealt his opponent a Qd6c6s3c5c board and so was eliminated even before he had a chance to get going.
As Phil Ivey exited the WSOP 2009 final table in 7th place his frustration was evident as he chose to shirk his ambassadorial duties with the general media, to the chagrin of poker enthusiasts and fans alike, in favour of an exclusive interview with WSOP TV hostess Lacey Jones and WSOP media director, Nolan Dalla.
On the one hand it is understandable that a player may not be in a chatty mood ten minutes after their dream of a WSOP Main Event title is ended, especially considering this year’s media circus interviews conducted in the main corridor outside the theater.
However, all the other players dutifully gave their interviews with grace and good temperament, providing a unique and personal view on their own experience at the grand final. Ivey, however, decided to skip his planned interview with the general media such that an apologetic Harrah’s Communications Director Seth Palansky had to declare in front of the media:
“We made it clear to [Ivey] that we wanted him to come out and talk to you guys and he made it clear that he didn’t want to do it. What are you going to do? You can’t force a guy to do something he doesn’t want to do.”
Ivey could have made a brief appearance and chosen any number of messages to give the media which would have been of benefit and interest to the army of poker fans who were eagerly anticipating a few gems of wisdom from the “greatest player in the world.”
Instead, he simply shrugged off his part in the most anticipated WSOP final ever and within 30 minutes of leaving the Rio was playing $2,000-$4,000 Hi/Lo Split on Full Tilt Poker.
Despite an army of disappointed fans, one man who won’t be commiserating any time soon is Andy Bloch who would have lost a $2 million prop bet if Ivey had realised his goal. Furthermore, bookmakers stood to lose big from an Ivey victory. NordicBet.com, for instance, had originally offered 750 to 1 odds on Ivey for the victory and company spokesman Kim Rud Petersen, commented at the time:
“A victory for Phil Ivey will cost our company alone hundreds of thousands of dollars in payouts, and I believe it’s the same for most bookies in the industry. If Ivey wins, this actually might turn out to be the most expensive poker tournament for bookmakers ever.”
“We made it clear to [Ivey] that we wanted him to come out and talk to you guys and he made it clear that he didn’t want to do it. What are you going to do? You can’t force a guy to do something he doesn’t want to do.”
This reminds me of the goodfellas movie that Ivey does not need to move for anybody….
It’s funny how it was point out that bookies like him to lose
[...] See original here: WSOP Main Event 2009: Phil Ivey Snubs Media As Bookies Celebrate [...]
I believe Phil did do 2 interviews. He just declined MOST interviews.
The only winner of the WSOP is Harrah’s Entertainment. The WSOP is a crapshoot ripoff, staged by Harrah’s to make money for Harrah’s. Phil Ivey is an old school poker, dinasour, who is caught up in Harrah’s greedy poker nonsense. Chances are, Ivey didn’t want to participate in that circus.
Thanks Timmie for putting this into perspective for us. The media got its panties in a bunch because they didn’t get the opportunity to ask him stupid questions like, “How do you feel about losing the WSOP again?” I already know what he’d say, “f**king horrible!”. Get over it Harrah’s…
Phil did do three interviews before he left. This is just media hoopla.
Totally agreed with mr_high. Phil Ivey didn’t kick over the table or punch the dealer. That’s sore loser stuff. He left quietly, gave an interview to someone who’s been around and understands what kinds of questions make sense — and then got on with the rest of his life.
If you respect the game, there’s no reason to ask for anything more.
I must say the picture of Phil Ivey makes him look about 12-14 years old.
Does anyone realy think Phil needs that much more of an edge? Well…. this picture does not do him justice, but it sure doe justice to the viewers.
Having the media or anyone else questioning Phil on his muff (making a mistake) of folding a better hand, can easily be answered by most people who have either played poker or any other competion where they are aware of what they are doing and who they are up against.
In this case, Phil probably figured he could not justify to himself or anyone else, on why he should win the 2009 wsop even though he and most of players consider him one of the top players in the world.
Trying to stick around to get up the leader board was probably going to take to much out of him, so, he regestered a muff, also known as a mistake.
The immediate reaction of people is that the game is fixed, and Phil was trying to help someone else due to tax situation or later consideration, but in all probabilty is that,when that type of mistake happens deep in the tournament, its either time to cash out, or take a break, or sit and try to understand if continuing play is in his best interest. Having made over 1 m already in prize pools, and from what is reported a few side bets with his proposition bets, Phil should have at least made some money.
Asking Phil his thoughts on, if his muff costs him anymore than he won, or even worse, asking him why he made that mistatke, and if that mistake cost him the tournament, well…the answer is not that important at this point in time. Its not important due to how peoples health are affected when trying to achieve something that most of the people at the game could be as likely to win. As I understand it, there may be a requirement that any player after being knocked out, has to register their game card, with, I think, its the pink dressed employee.
Its best to ask Phil at a later date about his muff, after he has slept for a few days, and does his regular activities, so we can hear the kid of answer that is the real Phil.
Since poker is much closer to a game than a sport, the media should show some respect (or inteligence) to someone who is one of the top players in the world, by not being to anoyed at him not answering properly, why he had a muff.
I would also guess that Phils answer will be, he was happy to have gotten as far as he did, and having not won the tournament this year, only lets him think he has another chance next year. He’s not going to say the muff is the early warning signs of a health issue. Who knows what who ate for dinner. lol
I thought that ivery made a bet when he had a hand that could not be beat and he folded by mistake.
As I see above, he went all in on a good hand.since he was low stack, he would have called any bet, or have gone all in regardless of where he was in relation to the blinds. Some-one is bound to call ivey the closer he is to the blinds so that they could get rid of him and everyone at the table would make more money.
Thats how you play poker.
I think ivey was low stack, and since he got knocked out on the winner catching a hand, Ivey was probably getting sicker by the second when he missed on the river, knowing that he had to file with the pink person, and have to wait another yerar to win
I am sure Phil will answer the question when he is feeling better.
The wsop will have to see how many other players start not anwering the media at the end of a match when that player loses. If most players start saying, i ivey does not ansewr after a loss or win then we don’t answer, thus a trend developes, and thats important,
No body wants to see a bunch of non americans reacting like ivey, but since ivey did what he did, I guess you will just have to suspend or bar those players from playing in tournaments when they do not respond as all players before them have, and see if those players use their money to maybe form their own tournament.
You would probably be best off having a point system where the player does not have to answer questions right away other than filing their card with the pink person, if a player either has so many earnings, or has spent so much money as guide on how many times a player can use their “no comment to-day”, but is required to answer to the sponsors people at a later date.
I do hope this is an isolated incedent, but if ivey and hellmuth and the rest of the gang from ledderer to hansen, from ferguson to the woman, start their own verssion of a wsop, big deal, or so what, or who cares, people will still tune into the wsop if chad and the other host are calling the plays.
They make the show look good, no matter if those who play are not that well known.
So, explain to ivey the mistake he made, and if ivey says he was not feeling that well to speak to the media, let it go, and if other players do not want to talk to the media after losing let it go , other-wise you will have to spend more money on a point system letting a player get out of speaking after a loss, and that might just delay what the players think they can do on their own.
There is enough poker on tv to learn the game without having the lossers of the wsop explain their loss. It may even improve the turnout of the wsop cause everyone gets a bonus on not having to answer the media sponsor right away on why they lost, but they should speak with the sponsor at a later date, within a reasonable period of time, and if not, its ok to bar them. lol