This summer, during the 2010 World Series of Poker (WSOP), Phil Ivey won his 8th bracelets. This puts him in a tie (with FTP mate Erik Seidle) in 5th position in WSOP History. Who's in front of him Johnny Moss with 9, Doyle Brunson and Johnny Chan with 10 each, and Phil Hellmuth reigns on top with 11.
At 34, Ivey is still young in poker years, and it's widely considered as one of the best poker players in the world. We're talking about a pro who finished 4 times in the top 25 at the WSOP main event, and all post 2003! We're not talking about these years where only a few hundreds players played in the events. At the 2009 WSOP main event, Phil Ivey took 7th place, out of just under 7000 entrants. Ivey is definitely the real deal.
That being said, catching up with Helmuth will be hard. However good a poker player you are, winning a bracelet is never easy, 3 is even harder. Plus, Hellmuth is still playing and could still win a bracelet or two, although some would say is glory years are behind (his last bracelet dates back to 2007).
Nonetheless, I'm pretty sure Phil Ivey will give is namesake a run for his money, or should I say chip.
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