Phil Ivey Becomes Poker’s All Time Tournament Winnings Leader

With his second place finish in the Aussie Millions $100,000 AUD  buy-in event over the weekend, Phil Ivey surpassed Mr. Peanut, the Monopoly man, Mr. Burns, and God as poker’s all-time tournament winnings leader, with over $12.6 million highlighting his illustrious career. The title was previously held by Daniel “Kid Poker” Negreanu, who relinquished the title back to the pro poker community from 2006 World Series of Poker champ Jamie Gold before he fell into obscurity.

“It’s a great accomplishment, for shizzle. Mo cheddah tha beddah, am I right!?! I’m an awesome poker player and you’re an awesome writer. High five!”

While this interview didn’t take place outside of my head, what is real is the tremendous force Phil Ivey has evolved into.  The poker juggernaut finished 7th last year in the 2009 World Series of Poker Main Event AFTER winning bracelets in both the $2,500 No-Limit 2-7 Draw Lowball and $2,500 Omaha Hi/Lo / 7 Card Stud Hi/Lo events. All of these accomplishments can be added to a long laundry list of tourney clinics he has run, including:

•         2005 – 1st – $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha for $635,603
•         2005 – 1st – Monte Carlo Millions for $1 million
•         2002 – 1st – $1,500 7 Card Stud for $132,000
•         2002 – 1st – $2,000 S.H.O.E. for $107,540
•         2002 – 1st – $2,500 7 Card Stud Hi/Lo for $118,440
•         2000 – 1st – $2,500 Pot Limit Omaha for $195,000
•         A record eight World Poker Tour final tables

While the bracelets and their prestige are certainly part of any man’s motivation, the more substantial force propelling Ivey to compete at his highest level are the prop bets he places on himself.  As some sort of sick degen’s placeholder on one’s own confidence and ability, prop bets stand to lose the average Joe more money than he’s worth when their pride fails them. When you’re Ivey good, it’s just another day at the office.

Depending on which story you choose to believe, it is estimated that his win last year in the No-Limit 2-7 Draw Lowball event has made him somewhere between $3  to $12 million, making his $96,367 cash look like a spot on the moon. Major implications were also in place if he finished first in the Main Event, where he stood to win millions more from the likes of pros Andy Bloch, Phil Gordan, and Tom “durrr” Dwan.

They say the sky is the limit, but at this rate, Ivey is on course to shoot straight into the sun. Years behind Helmuth and Brunson and Chan in age, he’s well on course to be the all-time leading bracelet winner atop the Mt. Olympus of the poker who’s who. What’s next for the world’s greatest poker player? Only time will tell.