Phil Ivey Boycotts WSOP Over Non-Payments

The World Series of Poker will have 58 events starting today and going through till mid-July. Fortunes will be made and legends will be born but one poker player, considered by many to be the best in the world, will not be attending.

Phil Ivey is boycotting this year’s WSOP and has filed suit against Tiltware. Tiltware is the software and marketing company behind Full Tilt Poker. Ivey has been a long time sponsored pro with Full Tilt and the 8 time WSOP bracelet winner has announced through his website the he sides with the people who have supported him and he is angered that people have not been paid by Full Tilt.

According to his press release:

For many years, I have been proud to call myself a poker player. This great sport has taken me to places I only imagined going and I have been blessed with much success. It is therefore with deep regret that I believe I am compelled to release the following statement.

I am deeply disappointed and embarrassed that Full Tilt players have not been paid money they are owed. I am equally embarrassed that as a result many players cannot compete in tournaments and have suffered economic harm. I am not playing in the World Series of Poker as I do not believe it is fair that I compete when others cannot. I am doing everything I can to seek a solution to the problem as quickly as possible.
My name and reputation have been dragged through the mud, through the inactivity and indecision of others and on behalf of all poker players I refuse to remain silent any longer. I have electronically filed a lawsuit against Tiltware related to the unsettled player accounts. As I am sure the public can imagine, this was not an easy decision for me.

I whole heartedly refuse to accept non-action as to repayment of players funds and I am angered that people who have supported me throughout my career have been treated so poorly.

I sincerely hope this statement will ignite those capable of resolving the problems into immediate action and would like to clarify that until a solution is reached that cements the security of all players, both US and International, I will, as I have for the last six weeks, dedicate the entirety of my time and efforts to finding a solution for those who have been wronged by the painfully slow process of repayment.