Quote:
Originally Posted by A MTT PRO
There's tons of money to be made elsewhere, I get it. But at some point your whole brand revolves around making appearances and playing events like WSOP. He should definitely start playing some events this summer unless he truly does not gaf about his image and brand.
Your guess is as good as mine. I just looked at his Hendon and he hasn't cashed a tourney since January 2016.
I don't know how much his "brand" is hurt by not playing tournaments. Anyone who plays poker knows Phil Ivey and he's still talked about during all of these broadcasts despite his absence. Also, he's still referred to as the best player in the world during these broadcasts. So that makes me think his brand isn't suffering, but it just sucks not seeing him participate in any of these events. I have a feeling he'll make an appearance for the $50k players championship, but we will have to wait and see.
Whether or not he's the best all around poker player in the world is really up for debate, but I don't think that matters. He's probably one of the most interesting players in the industry, which is why his popularity is so high. He has never been a "look at me" self promoter, which adds to his allure in my opinion.