THE WELCOME RETURN OF PHIL IVEY

Phil Ivey 15june12

Phil Ivey

It has been something of a difficult 18 months for Phil Ivey. Known as one of the best players in the game over the past decade, his reputation away from the table rather than at it has caused him to take leave of the spotlight; his involvement with Full Tilt Poker tarnishing his standing following the events of Black Friday in April 2011 and what followed.

It was in light of the Full Tilt fiasco that Ivey sat out the 2011 World Series of Poker, choosing not to flaunt his ability to play, while others with money stuck in frozen bank accounts, were unable to.

But Ivey has returned after this brief hiatus, immediately demonstrating to the poker world that he has lost none of the desire that took him to the top of the game in the first place. Jumping back in at the WSOP, Ivey reached three final tables in the space of a week, the most recent this week in the $5,000 Omaha Hi/Lo contest, where he narrowly missed out on his ninth bracelet, finishing in third.

Ivey lies fifth in the All Time bracelet winners list (one behind the first ever winner Johnny Moss), but like Phil Hellmuth who leads the standings, it’s not about the money or material profit for him, just the bracelet and the opportunity to try and win another.

Few players inspire spectators as much as Ivey, who boasts a unique talent (or would if he did interviews), which is at times masked by a look of indifference as he plays. Like masters of any sport, Ivey makes it look easy, frustrating those seeking to imitate.

Examples of his talent are plentiful though few are as awe inspiring as when he played against British player Paul Jackson in Monte Carlo, a bluff versus re-bluff dance that showed Ivey to be a master of his art, as this clip shows:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=60tWTcHKW_Q

Ivey is gifted player who brings with him an aura of anticipation at any event. With plenty of play left at the World Series, Ivey may yet win that ninth bracelet.