Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009 | 2:05 a.m.
Final Table Chip Count
- Darvin Moon — 58,930,000
- Eric Buchman — 34,800,000
- Steven Begleiter — 29,885,000
- Jeff Shulman — 19,580,000
- Joe Cada — 13,215,000
- Kevin Schaffel — 12,390,000
- Phil Ivey — 9,765,000
- Antoine Saout - 9,500,000
- James Akenhead — 6,800,000
Sun Coverage
He’s called the great poker player in the world, the Tiger Woods of poker and the chosen one.
Yes, Phil Ivey really is that good. And he knows it.
“There’s no perfect way to play against me because I make a lot of adjustments,” Ivey said on ESPN’s InsideDeal. “I’m pretty good at adjusting to what my opponent is doing.”
Ivey has less than 10 million chips, putting him seventh at the final table, but still is considered one of the favorites to win the bracelet.
Why? Because the Main Event is the one tournament Ivey has always said he’s determined to win.
At 33 years old, Ivey has already won seven bracelets, including two this year. The Main Event is the final tournament of the 57-event World Series of Poker.
“This year, for the most part, I was very prepared,” Ivey said. “I was on a very good schedule. I was doing what I needed to do and very in tune with poker.”
Although Ivey could make $8.5 million in winning the tournament, he might have more than that tied up in side wagers with other poker professionals.
When pressed by ESPN’s Inside Deal, Ivey would not state how much he has wagered on World Series of Poker side bets.
“I’m not comfortable discussing that stuff,” Ivey said.
If Ivey does win, he will become the first established professional to win the event since Juan Carlos Mortensen in 2001.
He would officially become the face of poker. Ivey said he didn’t know how he would deal with that.
“I’ve never been one to plan ahead, so I’ll start worrying about that once I’ve won the Main Event,” Ivey said. “I don’t want anything else going on in my life except playing one hand at a time when I sit down at that table.”
Carnival lasts all year at the Rio. With a float occasionally passing overhead and dropping beads while feathered dancers fire up the gamblers below, the Rio tries to keep its 120,000-square foot casino jumping with excitement. Special Brazilian mixed-drinks are also served throughout the casino. The hotel suites tend to be larger than similar priced rooms on the Strip and many offer excellent views with floor to ceiling windows.
The Rio offers some quality shows like "Penn & Teller" and "Chippendales." Many come to the Rio for the nightlife at the VooDoo Lounge, located on the 51st floor, or McFadden's Irish Pub on the casino level.
Others come for a bit relaxation at the Rio Spa or pool area and still others come to shop at the hotel's 60,000 square feet of shops. In each of these endeavors, the Rio attempts to make the experience a bit more fun and spontaneous.
The Rio also offers guests a variety of dining choices from all-American food at the All-American Bar & Grille to Gaylord India Restaurant for something a little spicier and even Carnival World Buffet for the indecisive.
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