Phil Ivey and Barry Greenstein Reflect on Poker Careers and Personal Growth

Phil Ivey and Barry Greenstein, two household names in the poker community, recently had a get-together to chat about their lives and careers. Ivey, often considered the greatest player of all time, has had a remarkable journey in the poker world.

Ivey has struggled with mental health issues but has taken steps to improve it in the last 18 months. He has been practicing meditation, yoga, and even seeking out things to do for others. Greenstein points out that the first two decades of Ivey’s career were all about making money, but Ivey agrees that he still has no regrets.

Ivey spends a lot of time in Macau playing live games and some online action. He has been cheated in live games, including one instance where a game was held up at gunpoint. The consensus is that online poker is safer and you stand a much smaller chance of being cheated. Ivey partners with Poker King, run by two guys he plays with. The conversation is then about which is safer―online or live.