The Other Side of the Felt, Vol. 11: 2002 WSOP, Before the Boom, Part 3 — Phil Ivey

The 2002 World Series of Poker saw the emergence of today’s biggest poker celebrity. At this point I have to apologize to Doyle Brunson, Daniel Negreanu, and of course “the other Phil,” but without a doubt Phil Ivey has become the game’s most popular and idolized player. Phil had desired to become the best at his profession, not just a tournament player but also successful in the world’s largest cash games. You cannot go a day without hearing his name in poker conversations or seeing him on TV. You can’t visit a poker forum without hearing fans talk about his legendary wins and losses both in Bobby’s Room and online, his tournament prowess, or even where they saw him in public.