Ask 100 poker fans who they think is the best poker player in the world and who they’d most like to take on at the felt and the most popular player in the world by a long stretch is one man. Phillip Dennis Ivey Jr., commonly known as Phil Ivey, once nicknames ‘No Home Jerome’ is a global phenomenon, Thanks to a new deal with the world’s oldest poker brand, the World Poker Tour, Ivey is now a Global Ambassador too.
World Poker Tour’s 20th Anniversary Celebrations
The World Poker Tour is the oldest poker tour worthy of the title and has been travelling across the globe for two decades. As part of these celebrations, the WPT has been inviting players to Las Vegas to play the WPT World Championship at the Wynn in Las Vegas, with the largest guaranteed prizepool in live tournament history, a total of $15 million. Costing $10,400 to enter, it takes place between December 12th and 20th and promises to be a thrilling adventure for poker players of all levels.
One of the most exciting aspects of the WPT World Championship is that Phil Ivey will be a part of the celebrations, who, along with Doyle Brunson will be in Sin City to take part. Back in January, the Lucky Hearts Poker Open took place in Hollywood in Florida. That event had a $5 million guarantee, a third of what is on offer in Vegas this December and had an incredible 1,188 entries.
Ivey’s role as WPT Ambassador comes on the back of a number of high-profile involvements between him and the poker brand. Back in the summer of 2021, Ivey won the WPT Heads-Up Championship for $400,000, while just a few short months ago, he took part in an amusing WPT ‘Dollar Million’ event promotion alongside Tony Dunst.
The Best Brand Ambassador?
With 10 World Series of Poker bracelets, a number of other major tournament victories and the kind of back story that Hollywood producers would fight over, Ivey is clearly a marketing golden ticket.
“WPT is one of the most respected brands in poker, and I’m honored to become a WPT Ambassador,” Ivey told WPT.com after the announcement was made official. “My commitment and passion towards poker has never been higher and I look forward to working with the WPT to showcase poker around the world, adding to its continued expansion.”
Ivey’s history with the WPT is not only in recent years. Way back when, he won the Los Angeles Poker Classic (LAPC) in 2008, getting the better of a final table that included Phil Hellmuth, who slid out in sixth place for $229,200 as opposed to Ivey’s top prize of $1,596,100.
To date, Ivey has won over $40 million in live ranking tournaments alone, and sits in ninth place on the all-time money list. At 45 years old, it could easily be argued that he still has many golden years ahead of him. If he has the drive, then Ivey could become the most successful poker player of all-time while with the global poker brand.
The Greatest of All Time?
The World Poker Tour has already welcomed new brand ambassadors into the fold this year, with Brad Owen and Andrew Neeme now on board as well as Steve Aoki, who was the first name the World Poker Tour added to their roster earlier in 2022.
“Phil Ivey is one of the greatest to ever have played the game of poker,” said the World Poker Tour’s CEO, Adam Pliska. “His career achievements and success as a frequent WPT final tablists underscore his deserving legacy as a true poker icon. As WPT celebrates its 20th-anniversary season, we have aligned the brand with talent and events that symbolize the very best in personal achievement. I cannot think of anyone who better represents that more than Phil, and I know players will appreciate the chance to interact with him at upcoming events.”
Ivey will be a big presence at the WPT World Championship Festival at the Wynn in Las Vegas this December, especially in the $10,400-entry WPT World Championship. Meeting and greeting fans, Ivey’s appearance is bound to cause a stir and he’ll be participating in ‘exclusive off-the-felt experiences on December 10th too.
