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Full Tilt Pro scooping a fortune in side bet money, too

June 14th, 2009

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After tonight's victory in the $2,500 Omaha/Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo Eight or Better Phil Ivey is looking good to collect a fortune in side bets.

Ivey outlasted a brutal final-table lineup laden with pros, taking out Ming Lee heads-up to win his seventh career WSOP bracelet.

The victory gives Ivey his second bracelet win of the 2009 WSOP, marking the second time Ivey has won multiple bracelets in one year at the WSOP. Ivey took three bracelets in 2005.

Ivey won his first bracelet of 2009 in the $2,500 No Limit 2-7 Lowball event, and after a sub-par overall performance in the 2008 WSOP Ivey is amongst the contenders for Player of the Year at this year's Series.

"I think I really wasn't into it," said Ivey about the 2008 WSOP.

"I'm just feeling good right now. I think last year I had a lot of distractions in my personal life."

Ivey, who has standing bracelet bets against Daniel Negreanu, Ted Forrest and Doyle Brunson, didn't say too much about where he stands overall in his side bets.

"I scooped all bracelet bets," was all Ivey would give up.

The final table proved a formidable challenge for all involved, as the final nine included Ivey, Carlos Mortensen, Dutch Boyd and Jon Turner, amongst others.

The crowds started gathering when the tournament went three-handed between Ivey, Mortensen and Lee. Lee was short stacked for much of three-handed play, and it appeared that a heads-up duel between Ivey and Mortensen was on tap.

Mortensen bowed out in third, however, taking home $89,342.

Lee then battled Ivey and took the chip lead for a short time during heads-up play. Ivey finally put away Lee in a Stud-8 hand, ending up with trip queens against Lee's pair of jacks.

Ivey's win gives him seven bracelets, and he's already looking forward to more. Erik Seidel is just ahead of Ivey with eight career bracelets.

"Now it's one more closer to Erik," Ivey said. "It's nothing personal. It's nice to catch people. This is poker history."

"As I'm getting older I'm starting to realize that winning bracelets does matter. I know I have a chance to be the all-time bracelet leader if I continue at this pace."

Ivey takes home $220,538 with the win.