Phil Ivey has been branded as the best poker competitor in the world by most of the top-ranked pros. Phil Ivey was born in Riverside, CA and moved to Jersey before reaching the age of one. His papa taught Phil one cent-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From then on on, he was hooked on poker and wished to learn everything he could about poker. Phil routinely would tell his elders that he was planning on being a professional poker player. Phil didn’t permit the adverse comments from others destroy his ambition of becoming one of the greatest poker players on the planet.
Phil started playing seriously after acquiring a false ID by the name of Jerome. He honed his techniques at the poker rooms of Atlantic City. The initial number of years for Phil were a learning experience and winning was not a regular thing at the time. He made his mark at the 2000 World Series of Poker where he achieved 2 final tables and won his 1st WSOP bracelet, in a two dollar, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha game. At the closing table he defeated a number of the better known professionals including "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
Phil made a decision to take his skills to the next level and headed out west to Sin City. Phil continues to play in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the best players in the world. Ivey credits his achievements to hard work and an eternal passion for the game of poker. Phil states that he’s learning every day and is quite abashed about his accomplishments. He admits to making mistakes every single game of poker and always aspires to get better.
Despite the fact that Ivey has won some large tournaments, he likes winning money games on a regular basis.