Poker News

PHIL IVEY has been dramatically knocked out of the World Series of Poker 2010 Main Event.

The 34-year-old, the top ranked poker player in the world, was hoping for a breakthrough in the monster tournament after his 7th placed finish last year.

But he was eliminated within the first hour of Day 2B after his Q-Q ran into Yuji Masaki's kings.

Ivey caught a queen on the turn, raising hopes that 'The Tiger Woods of Poker' would double-up from his low starting stack and mount a serious challenge.

But the river brought a king, completing Masaki's set and stunning Ivey's loyal supporters on the rail.

His elimination was even more of a shock because Ivey has been in great form. He won his 8th career WSOP bracelet at the $3,000 H.O.R.S.E. just prior to the Main Event, picking up $352,319 and taking his live career winnings to more than $13million.

The eight-time WSOP bracelet winner was one of countless big-name pros to bust on Day 2B.

Jeff Williams, George Danzer, David Baker, Kevin Saul, Minh Ly, Andrew Lichtenberger, Thuy Doan, Ryan Fair, Julian Gardiner, Perry Friedman, George Danzer, Todd Brunson, DaJohn Phan,  Gavin Griffin, J.C. Tran, Doyle Brunson, Jon Little and poker babe Shannon Elizabeth were all sent packing.

There was better news for WSOP bracelet winner  Vanessa Selbst, who at one stage held 300,000 chips before falling back slightly to finish the day on a healthy 265,000.

Gabriel Walls was chip leader at one stage with 400,000 before falling back to 241,000. The opposite was true of Jon van Fleet and Jim "Queso" Collopy, who both finished strongly to with around 300,000 each.

Chip leader for the day was David Assouline who bagged up 387,800, making him the overall leader heading into Day 3 on Monday, when the entire remaining field of 1,359 players will consolidate for the first time.