The 40th Annual World Series of Poker has wowed everyone with the turnouts in every event. Kudos to the RIO and WSOP staff for doing such an outstanding job in organizing and running this humongous event.The big buzz from the players at the WSOP is about Phil Ivey and the rumored amount he won on side bets (multi-millions) after winning his 6th WSOP bracelet in the $2,500 buy-in 2-7 Lowball Draw event. The first place prize money for that event was just under $100k and word is that Ivey toked it all to the dealers - obviously because he had won so much in side bets for winning a bracelet. (My guess is that this would be the first time in history that anyone won an event at the WSOP and lost money!)
On a personal note, the night before the 2-7 tourney, I made a bet with Ivey. I bet him even money and said he could pick any two players the rest of the WSOP to win a bracelet. He took the bet - and picked himself and Daniel Negreanu. Well, I didn't even get a sweat for my money. He won the next event he played in and incredibly, Daniel finished 2nd in the next event he played! Wow!
I believe Daniel Negreanu is the most amazing performer at the WSOP so far. Although he hasn't won yet, he's gone deep in every tournament, been in the money three or four times, and finished 2nd and 4th already. Daniel told me yesterday that he's played until 3:00 a.m. (that's when they stop play for the night) for 9 consecutive days! Folks, to get that far in every event you play is astonishing!
I can tell you this - I will not be betting against Ivey or Negreanu from here out. In fact, I've actually bet on Ivey to win another bracelet (at 5-1 and 6-1) against anyone else winning two bracelets that hadn't already won one as of Event # 15. If Ivey would win two and someone else does, the bet is a push. It's also a push if no one wins two bracelets (after Event 15).
On a side note, I've heard through the grapevine that management at the WSOP is not happy with side bets being made at the WSOP. I find this a little hard to believe as I feel the WSOP is far better off by having the high stakes players make these bracelet side bets because it gets the greatest players in the world to play the lower buy-in and lower pay-out events. If you ran the WSOP, wouldn't you want Phil Ivey, Daniel Negreanu, Doyle Brunson, David Benyamine, Eli Elezzra and other poker superstars playing at the WSOP every day?
Phil Ivey, for example, bets more on one golf hole than the first place prize money he won in the $2,500 2-7 draw tourney. He's inspired to play all the events (as are numerous other big-time players) because of the side bets he makes. This gives him and others the motivation to play. Having all the ultra-high stakes players play in nearly all of the WSOP events is terrific for the World Series of Poker. They should be grateful these players have made side bets.As for me, I've played in four events thus far with one cash. (I was on an anniversary vacation the first week of the WSOP.) I'm really looking forward to some of the upcoming events, especially the Hi-Lo split events. I'll be playing in those for sure because I feel I play them as well as anyone in the world. And speaking of side bets, I'm betting on myself against 8 other players ($10k each) to make it to the final table of Event 25 (the $2,500 buy-in half Omaha Hi-Lo and half 8 or Better Stud). The way I see it is that I can win 8 bets but lose one or two at the most. I might not win, but I love these bets!
I hope to see you at the WSOP! Take care.
-Mike Sexton
Canada
United Kingdom
Costa Rica
Australia
Mexico
Denmark
Russian Federation
Sweden
Brazil
Germany
