Phil Ivey has been branded as the greatest poker contender on the planet by most of the top-ranked professionals. Phil was born in Riverside, CA and moved to Jersey before his first birthday. His papa showed him to one cent-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From that point on, Phil was hooked on poker and wished to pickup every little thing he possibly could about poker. Phil routinely would tell his elders that he was going to be a professional poker player. Phil did not permit the detrimental feedback from others annihilate his dream of becoming one of the strongest poker players in the world.
Phil began competing seriously after acquiring a false ID with the name of Jerome. He honed his game at the casinos of Atlantic City. The first number of years for him were a learning period and coming away with a win wasn’t a regular thing at the time. Phil became known at the 2000 WSOP when he achieved two final tables and came away with his first WSOP bracelet, in a $2, 500 Pot-Limit Omaha event. At the final table he defeated many of the better known professionals including "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
Phil made a decision to take his game to the next level and moved out west to Sin City. He continues to play in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the best players on the planet. Ivey credits his success to hard work and an immeasurable love for poker. Phil states that he is picking up skills every day and is quite humble about his success. He knows he makes errors every single game of poker and always strives to get better.
Despite the fact that Phil has come first in some big-time tournaments, he likes destroying money games on a normal basis.
