In a rare interview, poker pro Phil Ivey (pictured) opened up about his past and addressed the latest rumors that he is broke.

The interview was published on Bluff Magazine’s website, which was able to get the normally reserved Ivey to open up about several issues in his poker career. Apparently taped following his monster $4 million win at the Aussie Millions $250,000 Challenge, Ivey walked through where he came from to get where he is today.

“I started when I was eight years old with my grandfather,” Ivey began. “We played Five Card Stud with a jar of pennies… I picked it up again when I was 14 to 15, which is when I started taking the game a lot more seriously.”

Ivey stated that his next stop on his poker journey was when he moved to Atlantic City around the age of 20. He also talked about his use of a fake ID to gain entrance to the casinos in New Jersey (“something I don’t recommend,” he said with a smile), which was the breeding ground for how “I got to be as good as I am.”

One of the things that Ivey is known for – outside of his outstanding poker play – is his propensity to hit the pit games, especially craps. “I don’t play as much as I used to,” he said in the interview. “I like to take some chances sometimes… If it’s within your bankroll and you’re able to spare [the money], then it’s okay.”

When asked about the Poker Hall of Fame, Ivey was respectful of the rules set in place that will keep him out until he is age 40. That rule, commonly known as the “Chip Reese Rule,” isn’t something that Ivey seemed entirely upset by. “Chip was a good friend of mine and I’d like to see him keep that record… He was one of the best players I ever played with. I’m happy to wait.” Ivey will be eligible for the Poker Hall of Fame in 2016.

The real meat of the interview came when Ivey was asked about Dan Bilzerian (pictured), who has promulgated rumors that Ivey is broke. When asked if he had ever played with Bilzerian or knew him well, Ivey chuckled slightly and said, “No, I don’t. I don’t think I’ve played a hand of poker with him.” When challenged with the Bilzerian rumor, Ivey stated, “People can say what they’re going to say… I don’t really feed into that. His opinion is his opinion… He really doesn’t know my financial status.”

Ivey’s peers have been silent on the interview with Bluff Magazine, but that hasn’t stopped the rest of the poker world from sounding off on what was a rare interview with one of poker’s most private people. Many of the viewers attempt to get a “read” on Ivey’s body language during the discussion, especially when the subject turned to the Bilzerian rumor. One poster commented, “He seems pissed and a little flustered when Bilzerian was first brought up.”

Others point out that the past few years – which have seen Ivey divorce his wife and witness the shutdown of Full Tilt Poker – might have had an impact on his bankroll, but he should still be in good shape financially. “Ivey is self-made, Bilzerian is not,” another poster chimed. “I doubt that Ivey gives a s**t about what Bilzerian thinks.”

With well over $21 million in career earnings, Ivey ranks second on the all-time money list, according to the Hendon Mob, behind only Antonio Esfandiari and has won virtually everything there is in the tournament poker world. The holder of nine World Series of Poker bracelets, one World Poker Tour championship, and three final tables on the European Poker Tour, Ivey has been more acclaimed for his skills in cash games, the true “bread and butter” of a poker pro.

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