While many may agree that Ivey is indeed one of the Best poker players alive today, and one of being a key here, they may not think he the All time best. What you must factor in is what game are we talking about. While I dislike some of the actions of say Phil Hellmuth at a table his poker prowesses are indeed awesome. In Tournament Holdem to say he is the All time best could be backed by many stats, especially in tournament play, and that he is the best present or ever to play is again statistically provable. Here is the main thing it is a matter of opinion who is the best. Going by facts and stats you got to say there are several alive today in Holdem that are truly great.
What game are we speaking of, all around poker, Stud, 7 card stud, Holdem, Razz, Tahoe, HORSE, Omaha or Omaha Hi/low? What game? Each game has it's best Many would lay claim that Chip Reese was the All time best Horse player and now he's dead. Daniel Negreanu is arguably, and you can get stats to prove it, better in a live cash game of any kind than Ivey or anyone else. HE has several of bracelets to prove his prowess in poker tournament play. You really got to get specific with a claim. All around players there are several really good ones who is the best is a matter of what day it is and game it is. For me Live cash Holdem and general poker ie Omaha, or Horse ect, Daniel Negreanu, Phil Ivey, Tom Dwan, Doyle Brunson, Chip Reese would be the All time best. Yes Arguably you can throw in a few other names but cash in accounts get the money in right and winning them are the top 5 names in my humble opinion.
So No Ivey's not The Best but he is Great and one of The best. Ohhh ya when he passes Hellmuth's 12 bracelets and 11 of them being in Holdem I might look at him in a different light. One of the bracelets he missed he was heads up against Hellmuth on Razz and Hellmuth got #12 playing Ivey heads up..... Great Post
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