$50K Poker Players Championship Master Class: Three Days, Five Hands, One Ivey

June 26, 2019

Chad Holloway PR & Media Manager

Hand #1 – Ivey Over Shakerchi in PLO
Hand #2 – Ivey on Fire in Draw
Hand #3 – Ivey Check-Raises River With Boat
Hand #4 – Ivey and Martin Chop Up Mercier's Chips
Hand #5 – Ivey Gets Wood

When Phil Ivey plays poker it’s a master class. Literally. He has a MasterClass in case you didn’t know. While we’re sure it’s worth every bit the $90 price tag, we decided to offer poker fans a free inside look at Ivey’s game while he competes in the 2019 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Event #58: $50,000 Poker Players Championship.

On Wednesday, Ivey entered Day 3 as the chip leader, and given the PokerNews team has had a front-row seat all tournament long, we offer you five of the biggest and most interesting hands player by the Poker Hall of Famer through Level 15 of the tournament.

Hand #1 – Ivey Over Shakerchi in PLO

Way back on Monday’s Day 1, it was Level 1 (1,500/3,000) when Talal Shakerchi raised to 3,000 in pot-limit Omaha after Eli Elezra limped in the cutoff. Ivey called in the small blind and the big blind mucked. Elezra made it three to the 2♠9♦K♠ flop. Action checked to Shakerchi, who fired 6,000. Only Ivey called. The turn was a 3♥ and Ivey check-called a further 12,500.

Check-check on the 3♣ river and Ivey opened first K♥3♦ for a boat then Q♠Q♥ behind it. Shakerchi mucked and Ivey chipped up to 321,000.

Hand #2 – Ivey on Fire in Draw

Playing 2-7 Triple Draw in Level 2 (1,500/3,000), Ivey defended the big blind and took two cards, with Phil Hui taking two as well in the cutoff. Ivey came out betting and Hui called. Ivey was pat and Hui took one. Ivey bet again and Hui called. Draws stayed the same and Hui mucked to the final bet.

Then, Julien Martini raised and Ivey called on the button. Martini took one and Ivey three. Martini bet and Ivey called. Each took one and then action got heavy with Martini betting, Ivey raising, Martini three-betting and Ivey four-betting. Martini called. Both patted and Martini check-called but mucked to Ivey’s wheel.

Ivey moved up to 350,000 after that one.

Hand #3 – Ivey Check-Raises River With Boat

On Day 2 in Level 11 (8,000/16,000) the game was limit hold’em when action folded to Ivey who raised from the cutoff. Jesse Martin three-bet from the big blind and both blinds folded. Ivey four-bet and Martin called.

The flop came Q♣9♣2♣ and Ivey made a continuation-bet. Martin called and the turn came 8♥. Ivey continued again and Martin raised. Ivey called.

The river came 8♠ and Ivey checked. Martin fired and Ivey put in a raise. Looking troubled, Martin thought for a little while and eventually made the call.

Ivey turned over 9♠9♣ for a full house and Martin sent his cards to the muck. That hand took Ivey up to the 655K mark.

Hand #4 – Ivey and Martin Chop Up Mercier's Chips

In the same level on Day 2, the game was Stud hi-lo when on the last hand before the break, Ivey, Jesse Martin and Jason Mercier tangled in a pot which saw both players continue all the way to the showdown. They were in for a bet on fourth street and Martin bet on fifth with three hearts out. Mercier and Ivey both called.

Ivey had a seven-low board so he fired on sixth and Martin raised. Mercier called and so did Ivey.

Ivey checked on seventh, Martin bet, Mercier raised and Ivey called. Martin raised it up again and both Mercier and Ivey called.

Mercier claimed he had a king-high flush and an eight-low but he ended up scooped as Martin showed an ace-high flush and an eight-low. Ivey took the other half of the pot with a seven-low.

Ivey: Q♥3♠3♣ / 7♥A♠5♦2♥
Martin: A♥8♥9♠ / 9♥5♥6♥2♣
Mercier: XxXxXx / 3♦6♣K♠J♠

Hand #5 – Ivey Gets Wood

On Day 3 in Level 14 (15,000/30,000), the game was 2-7 Triple Draw when Matthew Wood opened from the button and Ivey defended his big blind. Ivey drew one and Wood traded two. Ivey then check-called a continuation-bet from Wood.

On the second draw, Ivey took one and Wood stood pat. Ivey check-called again. Final draws again went one and pat and both players checked the river.

"Ten-eight," announced Wood.

Ivey turned over 10x7x5x4x2x and won the pot with his ten-seven to chip up to more than 1.5 million.

The $50,000 Poker Players Championship is still happening and you can follow PokerNews live updates until a winner is crowned. Click here to see how close Ivey comes to his 11th WSOP gold bracelet.

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