Winner Poker Player - News Detail

Phil Ivey has won his sixth WSOP gold bracelet. The 32-year-old from Las Vegas defeated John Monnette heads-up in Event 8 - $2,500 2-7 Draw Lowball (No-Limit) and took home $96,367 in prize money.

This was Ivey's first WSOP win in more than four years, and he now joins Layne Flack, Men "the Master" Nguyen, Jay Heimowitz, and T.J. Cloutier, who each have six WSOP career wins.

The heads-up battle against Monnette was tough and Ivey was in big trouble at one point, but managed to turn things around, and eventually sealed the deal with a nice 7-6-5-4-2 in the final hand.

A euphoric Phil Ivey after winning 2009 WSOP Event 8

It's rumored that Ivey, as usual, had made substantial side bets ($10 million!?) on him winning a bracelet in 2009, so the victory was probably worth a lot more than $96,367 for him.

WSOP media director Nolan Dalla made a quick interview with Ivey after the tournament:

Question:  What does winning gold bracelet number six mean?

Ivey:  It means I am one step closer to number seven.

Question:  What do you think as you look back on the Deuce-to-Seven event?

Ivey:  I don't know.  It was a grueling event.  When we got head-up, we played a long time head-up.  I did not expect it to last that long.  I expected it to break either way.  It was a tough final table.  I don't play that much Deuce, so I am pretty proud that I won a bracelet in this event since I had not won this game before.  It really means a lot.  Every time you win a bracelet, especially now, it is a major accomplishment.

Question:  Your last opponent, John Monnette played a great game.  Agree?

Ivey:  Yeah, he is a great player.  I agree -- he played terrific.

Question:  Do you look at the players who are still above you in wins - names like Hellmuth, Brunson, Chan, and the rest?  Do you expect to surpass them?

Ivey:  Yes, of course I want to catch them.  I will.

Question:  You value your privacy.  Why do you prefer to stay so low key?

Ivey:  I just like to keep to myself and do my own thing.  I like to be my own person.  If I can make money off it, that's great.  If not, then I can always play poker.  There's always someone around where I can make a bet or two.

2009 WSOP Event 8 - 2-7 Draw Lowball (No-Limit)

Buy-in: $2,500
Entrants: 147
Prize pool: $388,100

Final results: