Phil Ivey has been labeled as the number one poker competitor in the world by many of the top professionals. He was born in Riverside, CA and moved to New Jersey before reaching turning one. His papa taught Phil penny-ante 5-Card Stud poker. From then on on, Phil was addicted to poker and wished to pickup whatever he possibly could about the game. He routinely told his grandparents that he wanted to be a professional poker player. Phil did not allow the negative comments from other people annihilate his goal of becoming one of the best poker competitors in the world.
Phil started competing seriously after getting a fake ID with the name of Jerome. He sharpened his skills at the poker rooms of Atlantic City. The beginning few years for him were a teaching opportunity and winning was not a normal outcome at the time. He became known at the 2000 WSOP where he achieved 2 final tables and came away with his first WSOP bracelet, in a $2, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha event. At the closing table he defeated a number of the better known professionals including but not limited to "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
He made a decision to take his game to the successive level and headed out west to Sin City. Phil continues to participate in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the greatest players in the world. Ivey credits his success to discipline and an eternal love for the game of poker. He says that he is learning every day and is very abashed about his success. Phil knows he makes errors every single session of poker and always aspires to get better.
Although Phil has won some big-time tournaments, he likes winning money games on a normal basis.
