phil ivey

In the January issue of Bluff Magazine, we named our Player of the Decade for each 10 year span of the modern poker era (so starting in the 1970′s). The criteria was simple: what player had the greatest success and most impact on the game in each decade of the modern poker era?

While some decades, like the 80′s, were tight, it was pretty clear for the aughts/zeros/Ohs who the best player was. Below is an excerpt from our column. Go below the fold for excerpts from our 70′s, 80′s, and 90′s Player of the Decades.

Player of the Decade – 2000’s: Phil Ivey
Honorable Mentions: Daniel Negreanu, Phil Hellmuth, Chris Moneymaker

Phil Ivey first really came onto the scene in 2000, winning a Jack Binion World Poker Open event. Since then, he’s amassed over $11 million in tournament earnings and established himself as the best live and online cash game player in the world.

A WSOP Main Event final table appearance in 2009 cemented his status. And even Honorable Mentions for this decade, Daniel Negreanu and Phil Hellmuth, openly admit that Ivey is the best player in the world. Well, Negreanu does at least.

2009′s final table appearance also provided a push for Ivey in the publicity department, something almost solely dominated by the likes of Negranu and Hellmuth until then. He appeared on an ESPN The Magazine cover and countless major media features.

We expect Ivey (and Negreanu and Hellmuth) to be contenders for this title in 10 years as well.

(Buy the January issue in stores for the full column version…)

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Tagged as: Doyle Brunson, featured, Johnny Chan, Phil Hellmuth, Phil Ivey

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