Ivey decided to take back some of his money.

That’s the sound of the collective poker world weeping for their bankrolls as Phil Ivey just proved that he indeed is NOT the Tiger Woods of Golf.

Ivey just won the Aussie Millions $250k Super High Roller after taking most of 2011 off.

With his $2 Million win, Ivey takes over #2 on the All-Time Money List behind Erik “Can I do another Micros episode so I can win more money” Seidel.

I could go the cliché route and talk about how Ivey proved yet again that he is the best poker player of all-time, but Ivey’s bankroll is doing the talking for him.

Don’t forget, the objective in poker is to see how long you can keep your money away from Phil Ivey.

About the only things left for Ivey to accomplish in his career are as follows:

1. Overtake Phil Hellmuth for #1 All-Time WSOP Bracelets
2. Win the WSOP Main Event
3. Win the WPT Championship (If anyone still cares about that)
4. Be inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame. (Not eligible due to the “Let’s make Phil Ivey wait rule.”

You can book my “Phil Ivey to win WSOP bracelet #9” bet this year.

Yup, you should have paid time instead of the rake.

In the case of Luciaetta Ivey, one has to wonder if Ivey would have been better purchasing time … (yes, as in hookers.)

The divorce settlement between Luciaetta Ivey and Phil Ivey has been completed and here is what Luciaetta received:

Alimony from money Ivey gets from Tiltware
Her car
Her life insurance policy
Down payment for a new residence
Half of the proceeds from the sale of their home
40 percent of the business interests of Ivey with the exception of Tiltware, LLC.

This is what Ivey will get in addition to half the proceeds of the sale of his home:

Over $170,000 in credit card debt
$15.1 million in “gambling and other debt.”

I wonder if Phil Ivey’s butt is sore.

So, Ivey is giving up 40% of his business interests and takes on $15.1 million in debt.

If this isn’t an argument for pre-nups and “arrangements” I don’t know what is.

And please, don’t give me the whole “but they loved each other” or the “if he loves and trusts her, that doesn’t matter.”

Reality is that divorce is messy and expensive. Ivey had to find that out the hard way.

Marriage for a poker player is usually a bad gamble. Hopefully Ivey’s situation convinces some guys to at least hedge their bets.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Ok, so that was actually former WCW Main Producer and WWE performer Eric Bischoff’s entrance theme, but it applies.

Phil Ivey has finally resurfaced after several months of self imposed hiding / exile when he entered the APPT Macau Main Event.

Why did he choose now to come back?  Many figure it is because there is now a deal in place for Full Tilt to be purchased.  Others think that he is broke, especially after the revelation that he has quit paying alimony to his wife.

Regardless of his reasons, I wonder what type of Ivey we will see at the tables.  Will we continue to see “The Tiger Woods of Poker” or will we see a the “Post Affair Tiger Woods of Poker.”

Also, will fans accept him as readily as they did in the past or will some hold him responsible for at least some of Full Tilt’s downfall?  So far, reports claim that he hasn’t been bothered by former players regarding Full Tilt.

In all honesty, that is probably the way it should be.  There is no hard evidence to prove that Ivey had any real say in the downfall of the company.  Granted, there have been accusations that he helped to block the sale of the company in the past, but how far do you believe Mike and Scott Matusow?

Give this a few months and if Ivey is playing Iveyesque poker, fans will “overlook” the Full Tilt incident.  Personally, I don’t see Ivey coming back and failing.  His is too focused and too much of a competitor for such.

I’ll make this prediction now.  Ivey takes a bracelet next year, and maybe two.

Now the question becomes, who will win the bidding war to sponsor Ivey?