Phil Ivey’s Private Conversations

When Ivey talks people listen.

Phil Ivey's Private Conversations
© World Poker Tour.

It seems like Phil Ivey was all the talk of EPT Monte Carlo this morning. Not just his soaring and ultimately toppled top 5 chips stack, but also what he says to whom.

The guys over at the PokerStarsBlog go into how, as opposed to years past, Ivey’s been privately chatting it up around the table this year. Not making a spectacle of himself but engaging people one-on one.

Read: The Ivey effect… 'Please, call me Phil’

His approach is more personal. He talks to everyone. But instead of publicly asking how to say the swear words in the native land of each player, Ivey addresses each like a good politician might, talking close up, very quietly, sharing a joke, taking them into his confidence and bringing then into his close circle of tournament friends.

At the same time PokerStars suggests he likes to keep things private…

But you get the impression that Ivey likes to keep his correspondence private, such as when he spoke to fellow super high roller Talal Shakerchi. Ivey seemed to plan this to coincide with a loud speaker announcement about the prize pool that drowned out polite conversation around the room.

Even thought it was reported that Ivey was trying to keep that exchange with Shakerchi to himself, it didn’t escape the ears of the tournament reporters of PokerNews, which promptly published that what Ivey told Shakerchi.

We overheard Talal Shakerchi asking Phil Ivey about his future poker plans. Ivey confirmed that he will be playing the One Drop and all the WSOP events this year but also said it would be the last time he would do such a heavy WSOP schedule.

This year would be the end of a three-year WSOP bracelet bet and from next year on Ivey stated that he planned to play cash and maybe eight or so bracelet events.

So while Ivey will be grinding out the WSOP, it seems that – at least today – his days of being a big game bracelet hunter may be winding down.

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published 10 years, 8 months ago • by • permalink

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