It’s no secret that poker makes for great entertainment, with the high stakes, flamboyant players, and millions up for grabs. This is why Hollywood has long enjoyed creating poker-inspired films that range from the iconic Rounders to the more recent Card Counter. That said, while big studios and superstar actors can create a compelling picture, nothing beats the real deal. With the aim to show the reality of elite poker, professional player Phil Ivey is set to release his own documentary.
Considered one of the best poker players of all time, Phil Ivey remains a force to be reckoned with. A multi-millionaire with an estimated net worth of about $100 million, Ivey has proven that poker can be a highly profitable gamble. Currently the holder of 10 World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets, several cash finishes worth over $25 million, and one of the youngest people ever inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame, Ivey makes for the perfect documentary subject. Exactly what the documentary will cover or answer, though, is yet to be revealed.
What has been confirmed is that the film will (at least partly) cover the 2022 WSOP. Fellow pro poker player Kevin Mathers revealed that several areas of the tournament area were marked with signs that indicated filming. How the documentary will treat the WSOP will be interesting, especially given the caliber of its subject. Sadly, since filming at the WSOP started, Ivey failed to secure his 11th bracelet after losing at the final table in the Super High Roller. Just how Ivey deals with this loss behind the scenes, though, further ups the ante considering how notoriously private the poker star is.
If the documentary will be covering Ivey’s life outside of the WSOP, fans can expect a slew of topics to cover. After all, there are Ivey’s days at Full Tilt Poker, his diverse hobbies, his role as a poker coach on MasterClass, and the infamous edge-sorting litigation. The latter is undoubtedly among the most talked about moments of Ivey’s career, given that he was sued in both the US and the UK. Ultimately, he even had his 2019 winnings seized in order to satisfy these claims. On a lighter note, some fans also speculate that Ivey’s documentary could feature a cross-over with his pal Doyle Brunson. Considered one of contemporary poker’s most influential players, Brunson is also among the most respected and successful. A fellow Hall of Famer and WSOP bracelet holder, Brunson confirmed that a documentary about his life is in the works, too. Produced by the same team that created The Last Dance, the yet-to-be-titled Brunson documentary has more than 50 years of poker history to unpack. After all, Brunson has made such a mark on poker that he even has a hand named after him.
Regardless of what specific angle or milestones these documentaries will cover, though, it’s certain that poker fans have a lot to look forward to. With other recent poker documentaries like Bet Raise Fold and For Love or Money already available, poker aficionados can soon go all in on their poker content.
