Full Tilt Poker Pros Take $5.2 Million

The Full Tilt Poker Pros Take $5.2 Million at the WSOP 2009 Final Table

Hats off to Team Full Tilt Poker pros Phil Ivey, James Akenhead and Steven Begleiter, for their exceptional performance in the 2009 World Series of Poker Main Event! The group managed to become a dynamic trio by playing straight through a field of over 6,000 entrants to secure their spot among the ‘November Nine’. And for their exceptional efforts, the Full Tilt Triple Threat walked away from the tables with a combined total exceeding $5.2 million in prize money.

With seven World Series of Poker bracelets, one World Poker Tour Championship and $12.2 Million in career tournament earnings, Ivey’s performance at the 2009 WSOP just went on to prove why he is considered one of the best poker players of all time. He not only won two World Series of Poker bracelets, but also made it to the final table of the Main Event.

Ivey acquired his sixth gold bracelet in the $2.5K No-Limit Deuce-to-Seven Lowball event after being the last man at the table out of 147 entrants. For that feat he walked away with more than $96,000 then went on to win his seventh bracelet in the $2.5K Omaha/Seven-Card Stud Hi/Lo event where he pocketed $220,000 in prize money. These wins tied Ivey in fourth place with Billy Baxter for All-Time Bracelet wins. Then at the Main Event Final Table this year, Ivey let no one down with his performance even though he had a rough run of luck. Finishing seventh, Ivey added more than $1.4 million to his career tournament earnings and another notch on his WSOP belt.

Another Full Tilt Pro, James Akenhead, earned his first World Series of Poker cash prize at the 2008 World Series of Poker in the $1.5K No-Limit Hold ‘em event. He made it to a second place finish by playing his way through nearly 4,000 entrants, and took home over $520,000. This year, Akenhead also excelled when he earned his place amongst the November Nine at the 2009 World Series of Poker Main Event final table. Akenhead came to the table with the short stack, but played impressively to a ninth place finish, walking away with over $1.2 million. This makes over $2.2 million in career tournament earnings so far for Akenhead.

And although Steven Begleiter is not known as a regular high stakes player, he has attempted to gain ground in a previous World Series of Poker Main Event before. Regarding his performance in his attempt of the feat, he acknowledged that he “got crushed.” However, if at first you don’t succeed, try again and that is what Begleiter did. This time he played his way through a starting field of more than 6,400 players to secure his seat at the 2009 World Series Main Event final table and his very impressive first cash finish in a major tournament when he ended his play in sixth place, cashing over $1.5 million for his efforts. This win significantly boosted his career earnings, which now total just over $1.6 Million.

These impressive success stories just prove that anyone can live the dream when they put their mind to it. Why not start practicing for next year’s World Series of Poker? Visit Full Tilt Poker today and join your favorite tables. And while you’re there, look for Look for Phil Ivey, James Akenhead and Steven Begleiter, because these pros play only at Full Tilt Poker!