Beating out 112 players, Phil Ivey has won the 2005 Monte Carlo Millions, including its $1 million top prize and championship title. Touted as the “most exclusive poker tournament in the world," the Monte Carlo Millions took place this week at the glamorous Casino de Monte-Carlo.

The Monte Carlo Millions' $3 million guaranteed prize pool, sponsored by online poker network “Prima Network," marked the largest prize pool in European tournament history. Entry to the tournament was either awarded by invitation, or won via online satellite qualifier tournaments.

Phil Ivey was already chip leader coming into the final table, and at the start of the head-to-head play against runner-up Paul Jackson, Ivey had a five to one chip lead on his competitor. Jackson, an online qualifier from the UK, ultimately came away with $600,000.

This is hardly Ivey's first big win. Ivey has garnered a reputation as one of the top players on the tournament circuit, having already amassed five World Series of Poker tournament bracelets by the tender age of 29. Ivey won his first WSOP bracelet when he was just 23.

Source:  Poker777 Staff

Friday, 25 November 2005