Phil Ivey wins 2009 WSOP Bracelet and Prop Bet

After winning a bracelet in last nights 2009 WSOP Event #8, $2,500 NL Deuce to Seven, something appeared we don’t see to often on the face of Phil Ivey, a smile. This smile likely had nothing to do with neither the sixth career WSOP bracelet itself, nor the $96,361 first place prize money, nope, it’s that Ivey had $3 million dollars plus riding on a prop bet on whether he’d win a bracelet this year or not.

Some speculation is that his bet was to win $3,000,000; other speculation is that he had $3 million at risk getting odds ranging from 2.4 to 1 to 4.5 to 1, and likely stands to win a heck of a lot more should he win a second bracelet this year. After winning he gave a quick post match interview and sat right down in another tournament. So likely there is truth to the multiple bracelet prop bet.

Ivey is widely considered the best player in the world. Many have claimed in recent years that he has won so much money in cash games; he hardly looks interested or focused when it comes to tournament poker this year. With a win (maybe as high as $10 million) in WSOP bracelet prop bets. he sure looks a lot more interested now.

2009 WSOP Event 8 Final Table Coverage

147 players started this event and after two days in the books the seven remaining players returned for day three to battle it out for first place prize money and a WSOP bracelet. Despite being second to the shortest stack all focus was on Phil Ivey as fans packed the rail to cheer him on hoping this would be the day he wins bracelet number six.

It took only 15 minutes for the field to narrow from seven players to six. On this hand Yan Chen raised to 9K from the small blind, Elia Ahmadian re-raised to 28K and Chen called and drew one card while Ahmadian stood pat. Chen moved all-in and Ahmadian called instantly. Chen revealed 9-8-4-3-2 which was good enough to beat Ahmadian’s 10-low.

Ivey got himself some chips early on, first doubling up through Raphael Zimmerman and then eliminating him 5 minutes later on a hand where Ivey first announced pat with 8-7-5-4-3 and Zimmerman drew one, seen Ivey’s cards, put his own cards in the muck and headed for the rail.

Rodeen Talebi had to settle for $19,346 as he busted out in fifth place. On his elimination hand he pushed his final 50,500 chip all in and was called by Yan Chen. Talebi tapped the table to signal pat, as did Chen who showed a 9-8 low which bested Talebi’s J-T low.

An elimination hand occurred when Ivey opened for 15,000, Kesselman raised all-in for 80,500, Monnette called from the big blind and Ivey folded. Both players stood pat and Monnette revealed the stone cold nuts with 7-5-4-3-2 and Kesselman would need to wait for another tournament to compete for his second WSOP bracelet.

With three to go it was clear all players wanted this bracelet badly, in fact 3 handed play lasted an astonishing 3 hours and fifteen minutes. Finally the long streak of no elimination broke when Chen moved all-in for 139K from the button and Ivey made the call. Chen stood pat and showed a jack-low while Ivey drew one card to complete a 9-5-4-3-2.

When heads up play began Ivey had 481K chips trailing Mannette’s 615K chips. These two competed in an epic heads up battle that lasted an astonishing three hours and twelve minutes. Shortly into the match Ivey gained the chip lead and slowly and systematically improved on it. When it looked as if he would soon put Monnette away, suddenly the atmosphere in the Rio changed as Monnette doubled up two times in a row and took the lead back for the first time in hours.

Ivey stayed focused and battled to the point he had just a few chip lead when the final hand of the tournament was played. On this hand Monnette opened with a raise, Ivey made a huge all in overbet. Monnette called and announced he would be drawing one to his 9-7-5-2. Ivey also announced he would be drawing one to his 7-6-4-2. Monnette drew a 7 giving him a pair and Ivey revealed a 5 for a 7-6 low.

2009 WSOP Event #8 ($2,500 No Limit Deuce to Seven) Final Table Payouts

1. Phil Ivey – $96,361
2. John Monnette – $59,587
3. Yan Chen – $38,892
4. Eric Kesselman – $26,757
5. Rodeen Talebi – $19,346
6. Raphael Zimmerman – $14,663
7. Elia Ahmadian – $11,627