Phil Ivey Set to Headline 2009 WSOP Main Event November 9 Final Table

Already viewed as one of the best poker players in the planet and occupying 4th place on poker's all-time leading money winners list with more than $10 million in earnings and a total of 7 WSOP bracelets, including a pair this summer, Full Tilt poker's phil ivey is one of the names to watch out for in November 2009. But despite all of his accomplishments in the game, Ivey said on July 16th, 2009 that earning a slot in the WSOP Main Event "November 9" is his biggest accomplishment to date.

Ivey has been close to WSOP Main Event glory 3 times before. He finished in 23rd place in 2002, 10th in 2003 and in 20th place in 2005. Ivey said that he is just very happy about his accomplishment since it is a very tough day. Fellow Full Tilt poker member mike matusow said that Ivey making the 2009 WSOP Main Event final table should be a big boost to the game itself.

He added that Ivey making the Main Event final table is as big as if (deceased Main Event champion) Stu Ungar made the final himself. Matusow firmly believes that a poker player of Ivey's caliber making the final 9 players could even help change the UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. The rest of the November 9 group consists of professional poker players, online poker qualifiers and home-game amateurs.

Ivey will come back for the Main Event final table on November 7th, 2009 sitting in 7th place in total chips with Everest Poker qualifier Antoine Saout and British "Hit Squad" poker pro James Ankenhead behind him. The current leader is Maryland local casino facility qualifier Darvin Moon with young poker pro Eric Buchman sitting in 2nd place, home-game pool champion Steven Begleiter in 3rd place and CardPlayer Magazine editor Jeff Schulman in 4th place.

Rounding out the final table are online poker pro Joseph Cada, who had two cash ins at the 2009 WSOP and Kevin Schaffel of Florida, whose largest cash to date came in the 1994 world series of poker Main Event where he finished in 42nd place for $60,000. But even with a sizeable chip lead, Darvin Moon feels that Phil Ivey is still the man to beat.

August 09, 2009
Brian Nelson