In a rare interview, 2012 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Player of the Year frontrunner Phil Ivey (pictured) sat down with WSOP Media Director Nolan Dalla this week. According to Dalla, it was Ivey’s first sit-down interview in three years, and we’d believe it. This author remembers Ivey not taking questions after he finished seventh in the 2009 WSOP Main Event, so an opportunity to get comments from the eight-time bracelet winner is certainly unique. Read the full interview.

Ivey is a fierce competitor. A high roller by nature, Ivey told Dalla that he’s gunning for the win in every tournament he enters regardless of buy-in: “When I sit down, I’m trying to win and when I don’t, I’m disappointed. It’s just the way I am.”

Ivey made five final tablesat this year’s WSOP, recording second, third, fifth, seventh, and eighth place finishes. He has reeled in nearly $6 million in career WSOP earnings and sat out last year’s festivities while players on his home site, Full Tilt Poker, continued to be separated from their funds. On watching from the sidelines in 2011, Ivey told Dalla, “It was very tough missing playing the World Series of Poker. I love playing these tournaments and I missed it.”

Speaking of Ivey’s year-long WSOP layoff, the former Full Tilt pro admitted that his game suffered from being away: “When you’re playing poker, you have to be in stroke, especially when you’re playing against really good players. So, when you first come back and you play against players that have been practicing over the last year and have been playing all the time, you have to make some adjustments.”

Apparently, Ivey made the right adjustments. He also survived Day 1C of the Main Event on Monday and will play in Day 2C on Wednesday at the Rio in Las Vegas.

Ivey has a stable of pros he roots for, including Jennifer Harman, fellow high-stakes cash gamerPatrik Antonius, and PokerStarspro Barry Greenstein (pictured). He also believes he can get to 30 – yes, 30 – WSOP bracelets during his lifetime, 22 more than he currently owns: “If the World Series of Poker is still here, and I’m still alive, I think I will have 30 bracelets. That’s what I believe.”

HogWild Poker, a free, U.S.-friendly online poker site, makes PocketFives’ WSOP coverage possible. The site is staking 10 players with $500 buy-ins to live events at casino tournaments of their choice every month. On top of that, each month, HogWild is throwing in a $2,000 staking package to a WSOP Circuit Main Event. Sign up for HogWild Poker for free today by clicking here. U.S. players are welcome.

Despite his affinity for gold bracelets, Ivey said he’d rather make the November Nine than win another one. Why? “I’d rather be one of the November Nine because it’s a Main Event. It’s the biggest event in poker.” Ivey has certainly shined in the Main Event. Outside of being a November Niner in 2009, Ivey finished 20th in 2005, was the final table bubble boy in 2003, and took 23rd in 2002.

Ivey was one of four-dozen players to participate in the Big One for One Drop at the WSOP last week. Antonio Esfandiari came away with the win in the $1 million buy-in tournament and became poker’s all-time money leader. Also making headlines was runner-up Sam Trickett, who was attacked within hours of its conclusion.

On participating in the One Drop, which aired live on ESPN and ESPN2 last Tuesday, Ivey told Dalla, “There’s a bunch of great players, businessmen, everybody puts in a million dollars. It’s like so much excitement. Then, when you sit down, there’s just so much intensity from the beginning. Everyone’s trying their hearts out. It’s an unbelievable tournament to be a part of and the One Drop charity is such a good cause.”

Although he’s not media-friendly, Ivey said he appreciates all of his fans: “I’m just appreciative of any fan that I have. When I get stopped, I try to be friendly and giving of my time to meet fans. It’s nice to have fans.” Take Mel and Pat Humphreys, for example, who root Ivey on at the annual WSOP and were sighted on Day 1C on Monday. Late last month, Ivey Tweeted, “Thinking about my long time good friends Mel & Pat Humphreys. Miss you guys!”

React to this rare interview by posting in this PocketFives thread. Stay tuned to PocketFives for the latest WSOP news.