Ivey wins sixth World Series of Poker bracelet

Poker superstar Phil Ivey won his sixth career World Series of Poker individual event championship gold bracelet Thursday night.

The victory, in the $2,500 buy-in no-limit Deuce-to-Seven Draw Lowball event, moved Ivey, 32, into a five-player tie for seventh place on the all-time wins list. Ivey joins Layne Flack, Men “The Master” Nguyen, Jay Heimowitz and T.J. Cloutier, who each have six career wins.

Ivey, one of the world’s best-known and most-respected poker players, collected his first World Series of Poker win since 2005. He defeated a field of 147 and collected $96,361.

Ivey is also one of the game’s most enigmatic personalities. Considered by many to be the most publicity-shy poker star in the world, he rarely gives interviews or reveals much about his private life.

“I just like to keep to myself and do my own thing,” Ivey told World Series of Poker spokesman Nolan Dalla. “I like to be my own person. If I can make money off it, that’s great. If not, then I can always play poker.”

Three of Ivey’s individual event titles came in 2002. His first title came in 2000. Ivey is one of only four players to win three World Series of Poker gold bracelets in a single year. The others are Puggy Pearson, Ted Forrest, and Phil Hellmuth.

Ivey now has 31 World Series of Poker cashes, and 19 final table appearances.