Phil Ivey, Tom Dwan and Patrik Antonius share their winning secrets

Phil Ivey, Tom Dwan and Patrik Antonius have stomached poker’s biggest swings to collectively amass more than $36 million in online earnings since 2007, elevating them above the chasing pack to become arguably the best players of this generation. But what is it that makes them so special?

Unlike most of the game’s greats, their secrets are largely unknown. There are no strategy books or rules of thumb to explain how they’ve advanced their bankrolls, and all three are notoriously guarded when it comes to discussing strategy, preferring to further their riches than educate those nipping at their heels.

But when PokerPlayer caught up with the trio earlier this month we were given an unprecedented look into how they handle the million-dollar swings, their tips for staying tilt-free and why keeping a level head is essential to playing perfect poker. Who knows, by following their advice you might just get to follow in their footsteps…

Phil Ivey

If you don’t know who Phil Ivey is, you’re reading the wrong magazine. Ivey was one of poker’s biggest names when the poker boom hit and he now sits practically unchallenged at the top of the pile. But how does this eight-time WSOP bracelet winner and all-time money leader keep producing the goods?

PokerPlayer: What do you make of claims that you, Tom Dwan and Patrik Antonius are the world’s best players?

Phil Ivey: I don’t really worry about what people say, I don’t really check into it. We’re probably among the best players. Tom is a very, very good no-limit player, as well as Patrik.

Can your reputations make it difficult to find opponents?

Not for me because I’ll play against anybody, so it doesn’t really bother me too much.

What keeps you at such a high level?

We all have good work ethics. We also play a lot and we have a good understanding of people and psychology – knowing how to win, when to quit, when to stay, things like that.

Are there parts of Tom and Patrik’s games that are stronger than your own?

Yeah, there are some things they do better but I don’t like talking about strategy. That’s why I’ve never written a book. If I were to write a book it would hurt me more than help me.

You all play for days at a time. Aren’t such massive online sessions exhausting?

The adrenaline is going. The competitive side of you is coming out and you’re just not really that tired. When you get tired you just fight through it – eat some breakfast, take a little walk maybe, go to the bathroom, put some water on your face then get right back in there.

So you could do a world-record session?

That’s crazy. That official world record, I probably have that broken.

You must go through phases in which you don’t want to play poker any more though?

The most I ever really need off from poker is like a week and then I’m ready to go again. After the World Series I take a week and relax, read a couple of books, go to the movies, hit some golf balls and recharge. But I don’t need much to recharge. I don’t need no month-long vacations.

You’re known for not wearing sunglasses at the table. Why is that?

I like to be able to look at someone when I play them, so I would rather them not wear sunglasses. I think that would be beneficial for me and I think it would make it better on TV too. When you can look at someone’s eyes they can’t hide behind anything. What indoor sport are you allowed to wear sunglasses? If you want to take poker as a sport maybe you shouldn’t be allowed to wear sunglasses.

Recently, people claimed you’ve surpassed legends such as Chip Reese as the greatest of all time. Would you agree?

Chip Reese was a good friend of mine and I learned a lot from him, watching him play poker. Not only poker but away from the table – he was just a stand-up guy. To say I have surpassed Chip as the greatest player of all time, that is ridiculous because to me he is the greatest and I don’t know if there will ever be anybody like him. So, I mean that’s something you can judge when I’m gone, but while I’m here I would still say that Chip is the greatest player I have ever played with.

What about bracelet-holders like Phil Hellmuth? Is he good enough ever to win in anything other than hold’em?

He plays enough of the other tournaments that one day he has to, but I’m gonna pass him [in bracelets]. I would take a big bet that I catch him within ten years – a big bet. I hope that I can catch him within five. I think it’s doable.

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