From the...

From the CEO (#30)

Written by Andrew W Scott

Phil Ivey. Most argue he is the greatest poker player alive today – and he’s famously reclusive, shying away from media attention and rarely giving interviews. That’s why we’re incredibly proud to bring you a long format in-depth interview with the man himself as the cover feature of this issue of WGM. Since it’s become known I interviewed Ivey, people have asked me, “Was he completely honest with you? Did he open up? Were you happy with the interview?” The answer to all three questions is perhaps, “In some ways yes, in some ways no.”

The truth is the Phil Ivey story is still being written, and whether he comes out at the conclusion of the last chapter as hero or villain – or perhaps a bit of both – is yet to be seen. We left on good terms, so hopefully we’ll get the opportunity to interview Mr Ivey again and bring you more of his story as it unfolds.

As I write this we are in the group stage of the World Cup in Brazil, and I hope you’re all referring to our awesome guide to the competition in WGM issue #29, our May/Jun issue. In WGM#31 we’ll no doubt bring you a wrap of the greatest sporting competition on earth (sorry, Olympics). Hopefully Germany will win and we’ll have bragging rights in picking the winner twice in a row, after we successfully tipped Spain in South Africa 2010.

I’m just about to jump on a plane to join our good friends at Resorts World Manila and play a 3 million Peso baccarat tournament there, before zipping back to Hong Kong to start a lightning round the world trip – a quick dash to London during Wimbledon and to visit some casinos there, followed by a couple of days on the beaches of Miami and then of course it’s Las Vegas for the Main Event of the World Series of Poker, which we will cover in WGM’s next issue.

Then it’s back to Asia and down to the beach resort town of Sihanoukville in Cambodia to try my luck at the Asian Poker Tour event in late July before finally returning to home base in Macau. Someone’s got to keep those airlines in business!

As always, follow the dragon,
Andrew W Scott
CEO