Controversial Poker Pro Phil Ivey Makes 2025 WSOP Debut, Ends Race Shortly After Suspicious Wager Incident
In the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP), poker legend Phil Ivey found himself in a peculiar predicament during Event #3: $5,000 8-Handed No-Limit Hold'em. After maximally late registering for the tournament, Ivey, who entered with just 12.5 big blinds, encountered a perplexing scenario less than 10 minutes later.
During Level 13 on Day 2, the 11-time bracelet winner played a pot from the big blind against Justin Zaki. The hand in question revolved around the community cards showing K♣ J♦ J♠ 3♠, with Ivey holding J♣ 9♠. The pivotal moment came on the river, when Ivey hesitated with two red chips (5,000 each) in front of him, causing Zaki to misinterpret Ivey's gesture as an all-in bet.
Upon realizing his opponent had made a flush, Ivey appeared uncertain about how to proceed. He called over the floor supervisor to clarify the situation. Zaki admitted, "I thought he had 10k. I thought it was like a bet." In response, the floor manager informed Ivey that since Zaki had incorrectly believed he was facing an all-in bet, action returned to Ivey, who did not make a river bet and ultimately lost the hand to Zaki.
Ivey's brief stint in the tournament came to an end soon after, as he busted out against Calvin Anderson in a 60/40 match, leaving him with only a few big blinds in chips. As the WSOP continues, Ivey, known for his conspicuous participation, is expected to play an extensive schedule in pursuit of his 12th bracelet.
sources:[1] (Unnamed source) details the overall context but does not provide specific insights about Ivey's actions in Event #3. It may be beneficial to consult live reporting or official WSOP coverage for a more detailed account.
- Amidst the WSOP news circulating, the sports world was abuzz with a unique casino incident involving poker legend Phil Ivey during Event #3.
- In an unexpected twist of events in the high-stakes poker scenario, a misunderstanding over a bet between Ivey and Justin Zaki resulted in Ivey losing a crucial hand, casting uncertainty over his tournament run.
