Phil Ivey Sitting Out World Series of Poker Tournament for a Just Cause

Phil Ivey, an eight time World Series of Poker bracelet holder has took a stand against Full Tilt Poker, a company that he has marketed and supported over the last few years. Full Tilt Poker was one of three offshore gambling companies that the US Department of Justice seized and shutdown recently. However, the Department of Justice has given all three companies the opportunity to refund all American players who held bankrolls with each gambling company. However, Full Tilt Poker is still holding millions and millions of player's money without any communication when players will receive their money.

Ivey, who decided to file a lawsuit against Full Tilt Poker and as part of the lawsuit Ivey decided not to play in the 2011 World Series of Poker tournament in Las Vegas. Phil Ivey has been a top poker player over the last ten years decided it wouldn't be fair to all the Full Tilt players that have yet to date to receive their bankrolls from Full Tilt for him to play when those players cannot. Kudos! Phil Ivey for putting your interests aside for the American players that lost their bankrolls or at least has yet to receive it from Full Tilt Poker.


Phil Ivey is one of the top ten poker players in the world and for him to miss out on the 2011 WSOP has to hurt, but the reason for his absence is just. Most players of Phil's stature would just forget about the other players and play in the WSOP. However, Phil who marketed Full Tilt Poker for years must feel like he's personally let down the thousands and thousands of players that put their money into Full Tilt Poker based on his personal recommendations or should I say advertisements.


Hopefully, Phil Ivey's filing of the lawsuit will ruffle some feathers inside the company behind Full Tilt Poker. This may get them to the point that they will start reimbursing American players that had bankrolls held within the company. However, Phil Ivey will more than likely lose any endorsement deals he had established with Full Tilt Poker. At least he'll be able to sleep at night knowing that he took a stand for the thousands of players that are just a number to Full Tilt Poker.


Phil will be missed at the 2011 World Series of Poker tournament but I'm sure we'll see him back in 2012 with a long cast of supporters that will be pulling for him. Phil always plays poker in a cool calm demeanor and it's exciting to watch him play against the world's best.


Source:


www.espn.com