Quote:
Originally Posted by Shneitz
greetings Long time lurker Phil ivey fan. Been outta poker scene few years but heard Phil ivey having problems. I caught up grapevine but no contact current high stakes guys. I recently sign up pokergo and watched most recent coverage... Everyone knows his 2 bad internet years before, divorce, edge sorting, wage garnishments, ect... I believe he's had a gradual(at best) decline in bankroll and life and very obviously at end of the road health wise. Some observations ( I can furnish actual times of said happenings In videos for reference if asked later)... My quotes and times of other stuff aren't exact going from memory but you get the idea 1) way back when (about 2015) danbiz( I'm not a fan of his) said ivey was broke. I didnt think so but where smoke is fire and I believe he was having issues at that time 2) if you listen to interview podcast Asian bacaratt lady I believe it was iveys bankroll but obviously she got half or whatever percentage but he on the hook for all of it now. He was almost getting "revenge" on the casinos but got greedy winning 10 million at once. The girl wanted many smaller hits but seems it was personal for ivey and he made judgment error not broke at that time just personal. He believed/s he's not cheating and would did it regardless of his finances( I think he's in the right) The last time he won before incident casino knew ahead of time his method (grapevine casino world management) and they freerilled him. 6 percent ain't big edge and he had good chance of losing ( like he did the first attempt he was pissed) I think taking this hit/publicity/refuge in Asia is when it started to go bad. If you've ever went bust/bad night in lasvegas(I have) you can't even began to compare that to the loneliness and despare of the casino scene in Asia( I know this personally)too What a horrible place for a westernen to be struggling poker wise knowing that your future place in American poker scene maybe gone forever. I believe he went on a bad run at dice and cards and life and he got into the drug scene slowly at first(worse thanweed) maybe 4 or 5 years ago maybe even much more recent... He was known for godlike endurance without drugs his whole career. He's been miserable in the fentanyl making capital of the world for years with easy access I believe his drug problems are an open secret in high stakes world and its testimony how much respected he was that its not public. And I think he's in debt major and his lenders know getting no money if he rehabs/leaves the scene/they blab. Triton poker observations----- Did you see the highs takes cash episode where ivey is riding eldon? He starts in the background( you can hear it first minute background before actual visually. He wouldn't have talked like that before there is some extra venom here. Elton possibly highest winner cash games in history cuz he got to play soft billionaire games for years in Asia other episode ivey is smoking I cigarettes you get a quick glance
clownish white pro says "show me a hand Phil ivey" after winning, ivey folding, ect. Ivey obviously struggling life wise for this comment ivey one episode says there goes my winnings referring to being stuck a million cash game after winning short deck tourney few days before Phil wasn't much a winer before the other thread about Doyle episode with matesow discussing ivey. Him and glanz say "he's shell of himself" Mike says (referring to glanz) "me and you know they don't know" " somethings you never come back from" Mike says " I used to be jealous of" ( I think he's referring to iveys ability long sessions no drugs great concentration before, unlike Mike's crystal meth/ecstacy days long sessions....and glanz had played with ivey month or 2 before highroller tourney.... Look at the ivey cover shot photo for the highroller event on poker go... Wow he looks bad not just older... 2018 main watch iveys personality aura at the table when he bluffs and gets called. Dark clothes, shades, posture not same. Looks different walking away from table. It's his life he's miserable... not being knocked out of tourney....the jungleman backing players championship bust out table... Iveys is obviously a very high intellect high functioning guy. He's completely high and plowed in this episide. Hes accidently flipping cards, misread another hand, loses track of the dealer action. Eyes glazed over. Spends half episode looking at his shoes and cell Gives deeb an unphil like wink as if to say "everything cool man" Look at glanzs face after he bust ivey. It's pretty subtle but if u look he shows pity for ivey not in normal way... Same episode The Asian sitting next to ivey says something that makes ivey say " not on camera ect.". I suspect guy wanted to talk about previous hand or something minor. When jungleman returns to his seat a few minutes later the kid says " can't be too careful on camera" an obvious mock/diss at ivey... I know jungleman had a piece probably explains it but notice the obvious never looks at ivey all episode despite sitting next to him...when ivey bust out he looks other players normally and then gives jungleman " aw shucks man you see how unlucky I was".... If you've ever staked someone you know this look well.... I believe jungleman and Russian made ivey debt public cuz its last straw and he already owes a lot to them they got nothing to lose and they just watched him blow a giant lead in most prestigious tournament while higher than feck (ivey was very unlucky for the most part though)... If you've watched Phil ivey his whole career you can watch this episode and say it's up there with Scotty wins drunken performance in subtle ways.... But watching Scotty didn't make my stomach hurt and feel so sorry and sad. The poker world's most iconic, best poker aura/presence ever ever who was the pokerface and idol of a generation(or 2). The 10 time bracelet winner world champion (despite so few events played). The man who saved the whole old school high stakes players sorry sorry arsed bankrolls beating banker beale heads up for 10+ million. The man who ran over internet poker winnings for several years despite playing less than 20percent amount of hands same group of winners.... Without "gto"..... HEY MIKE MATESOW Sorry you been jealous all these years. And ya when you said "Phil not best player only cuz biggest bankroll" "Phil ivey don't care about you just wants your money" we understood you. Phil did get a little big for his britches with car commercials reality show and a staff. But Like Jordan and tiger at the core Phil is an introverted guy who dedicated himself to his craft. Truth be known he's not that great socially but clever when needed and had to be quiet and distant to keep his sanity and focus. Especially surrounded by loud annoying rude drug addicts and degenerates ( you did write best poker biography ever) who's trying to take his money hoping he fails or break him... 24/7, 80 hour weeks, for 20+ years all under a poker microscope. Phil did a pretty good job at handling it not being outgoing guy at the core ....Quit being a poosay with the subtle inferences about his struggles. Speak the feck up if you wanna talk about him. In truth you'd probably help him at this point... And you could still feel the personal satisfaction of him being mostly helpless and not the king anymore. Have you forgotten the 3 day ice focus days and your "friends" lining up around the block to get in the game.? Revenge is sweet, huh? HEY PHUA! It was nice what he did for you in Vegas right? YOU know it's not easy in a foreign land. So what if he owed you. He was still there. You SIR (heavy on the sir!) are maybe only one in Asia with the clout and relationship that he's gonna abide buy. Forgive the past. I know Asia culture don't approve but I promise Phil losing face now will all be forgiven. And hell thank you later. You can do it behind the scenes. Don't have to be public HEY DANIEL N You've looked up to him your entire poker life. You gonna keep pretending "Phil's alright" "Phil's not broke"? QUIT PRETENDING HE'S GONNA BE OK BECAUSE HE'S PHIL AND PHIL ALWAYS FIGURES IT Out...He needs your help man. Listen to the grapevine or spend 15 minutes watching him televised. I know it ain't gonna be easy. Take someone with you. You've helped others before you can do it again. You can idolize him again when he dries out and makes poker worlds biggest come back....Maybe not the same insatiable hardass gambler post Phil ivey rehab. But a happier human being not looking at casino staff every waking minute listening to hollow soulless creeps and fake friends his every waking breath. Maybe the new Phil might even take a nature hike or meditate. Hell never be who we wanted him to be but hell be a whole lot happier and alive
Good post. Most likely some good reads in there.
Good question in the title.
It's always hard to help someone who is better / smarter / stronger... than his peers ! They often get overlooked as "they will figure it out no doubt".
