WSOP 2010 The Final Countdown -- Ivey in Clover

As the November Nine prepare to take to the felt, bringing to an end the WSOP 2010, Rebecca McAdam relives her favourite memories from this year’s Series.

You could tell Phil Ivey was hungry for a big win, and not just by the fact he was all over the Rio, hopping between different events, but there was fire in his eyes I hadn’t seen before. I’ve witnessed Ivey take his seat at an EPT high roller event, and blatantly not want to be there. Moments later, he’s gone, and tens of thousands are down the drain. But at this WSOP, he seemed different.

He was accompanied at the final table of the $3,000 H.O.R.S.E. event by professionals such as John Juanda, Jeffrey Lisandro, David Baker, and Bill Chen. At one point Chen had 75 percent of the chips in play and was storming towards gold. When Ivey and Chen went heads up, I returned to my hotel room and tried to stay awake to watch the updates. It was a battle of epic proportions with Ivey and Chen playing tug of war over the chip lead, but in the early hours of the morning a cold deck hit Chen in the face, and Ivey won his eighth bracelet.

With so many people wanting to interview Ivey, it was decided that he would hold a press conference a day later. The buzz was unreal as we waited for him to make his entrance ⎯ you’d swear the Pope was coming! People gathered around a pulpit whispering and nervously giggling, and photographers hung out of ceiling lights and backdrops, desperate for the best view. He arrived late, casually chewing gum, oversized shirt hanging out, and that icey, carefree stare. He told us something that made me regain interest in what could be yet to come from him ⎯ “As I’m getting older I’m realising my place in poker history, and I think that it’s very important how you perform in tournaments.”

Ivey went on to finish third at his ninth WPT final table in the Bellagio Cup VI shortly after this, despite being one of the last players to register on day 3.

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