The world’s most unique poker player is the first to confirm his attendance at the World Poker Tour $1,000,000-entry Big One for One Drop. Phil Ivey, himself a WPT Global Ambassador, has already delivered a suitcase of dollars to the registration desk. One of the biggest poker stars on the planet, Ivey has put up the seven-figure sum to take on a prestigious field of businessmen and poker greats alike.
Ivey Struts into One Drop Field
“WE HAVEN’T SEEN SUCH STRONG INTEREST AT THIS STAGE SINCE THE EARLY EDITIONS.”
No-one makes an entry like Phil Ivey. The World Poker Tour announced the attendance of Ivey in this year’s WPT Big One for One Drop in their inimitable fashion, as a viral video featuring Ivey walking to the ‘registration desk’ – a little early – confirmed he’s the first big name in the Big One.
“The Big One is what high stakes is all about,” said Ivey in a WPT press release. “Everyone’s game will elevate when they play in the biggest buy-in event in WPT history.”
Ivey is not going to be the only big name who wants a piece of the action, with the WPT confirming that interest in the returning iconic event has been huge.
“After a five-year hiatus it seems the grounds have never been more fertile for the Big One,” said One Drop Foundation’s Chief Marketing and Events Officer Alexandre Meunier. “It is clear it has been missed. Past players from the worlds of business and high-stakes poker are showing strong interest as well as players who have never played a Big One before which is very encouraging. We would go as far as to say that we haven’t seen such strong interest at this stage since the early editions of the history-making event.”
How Much Has Phil Ivey Won in His Poker Career?
Phil Ivey is one of the most successful poker players of all-time, if not the most successful. In addition to being in the top 10 players on the fabled All Time Money List on The Hendon Mob, Ivey’s exploits at the cash game tables in places such as Bobby’s Room in Las Vegas or in Macau are legendary. Ivey cleans up in a variety of poker formats such as No Limit Hold’em and the increasingly popular Short Deck games.
The Poker Hall of Famer, now 46 years old, is a 10-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner, only behind Phil Hellmuth in the all-time list for that brand. With over $40.7 million in live tournament earnings alone, Ivey’s prowess at the poker felt is as huge as his reputation.
Over the years, Ivey has not only proven himself in cash games and tournaments alike, but in the very highest buy-in events. The biggest four wins of his poker career in tournaments have come in super high-roller events, such as the $250,000 Aussie Millions Poker Championship in 2014, where he won the title for over $3.5 million. A recent example of his mixed game mastery came in 2018 when he won the Triton Poker Series Short Deck event in Montenegro for over $1.6 million.
When Was the Most Recent Million-Dollar One Drop?
If it feels like a long time since the last Big One for One Drop, that’s because it is It’s been a whole five years since the last time poker players ponied up a million dollars in this event format. That’s not to say that it’s the last time that happened, however. In recent years, the Triton Poker Series has become a huge player in high stakes tournaments, and the WPT’s involvement in the Big One for One Drop creates a healthy competition between the two brands that can only be good for poker.
Back in 2018, Justin Bonomo claimed the biggest win of his poker career, banking $10 million for taking down the 27-entry tournament. Only five players cashed in the event, with Byron Kaverman (5th for $2m), Rick Salomon (4th for $2.84m) and Dan Smith (3rd for $4m) all coming close. German poker phenom Fedor Holz came second for $6 million. This year, if the WPT’s Big One for One Drop gets an even bigger field, expect life-changing money to be awarded to the winner… perhaps a certain Mr. Ivey.
This year’s Big One for One Drop takes place between December 18th and 20th in Las Vegas at The Wynn and will donate 6% of each million-dollar entry to the One Drop Foundation, as they push for sustainable access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene for communities facing extreme challenges in their daily lives.
This article originally appeared on PokerStake.com
