Phil Ivey strikes first in WSOP bracelet bets

Number six for Ivey,

Few players go off at 2.5 to 1 against winning a bracelet in a single WSOP. Phil Ivey spread those odds on himself and cashed in big tonight by winning the $2,500 Deuce-to-Seven Lowball event.

Ivey survived dramatic ebbs and flows at the final table to beat John Monnette heads-up. The victory gives Ivey his sixth WSOP bracelet and a first-place cash of $96,361.

"I don't play that much Deuce, so I am pretty proud that I won a bracelet in this event," said Ivey after the match.

"Every time you win a bracelet, especially now, it is a major accomplishment."

While the first-place cash and the bracelet are important they pale in comparison with the money this win earned him in side bets.

Rumors of million-dollar wagers include names like Doyle Brunson, Daniel Negreanu and Ted Forrest.

Negreanu admitted than he's in the hole to Ivey during a break in the $10,000 Mixed Event.

"We have a bet standing," Negreanu said. "Last year I beat him for $200,000 winning a bracelet, and we have $200,000 on every bracelet."

"So he won that, but I also have bets on him in my fantasy stuff, he's my first pick. So I lost $200,000 but I won pretty close to that back anyway."

Financial setbacks aside, the four-time bracelet winner Negreanu was pleased to hear of Ivey's victory.

"I was happy for him," Negreanu said. "It was one of those weird things, he's a good friend of mine."

"So $200,000 is less important to me than him doing good. I like when good players win bracelets. It's historic."