Phil Ivey has been labeled as the number one poker player on the planet by many of the top-ranked professionals. Phil Ivey was born in Riverside, CA and relocated to Jersey before reaching turning one. His grandpa introduced him to penny-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From then on on, he was addicted to poker and wished to pickup everything he could about the game. Phil routinely told his parents that he was going to be a professional poker player. He didn’t let the negative feedback from other people destroy his dream of becoming one of the greatest poker players in the world.
Phil began competing seriously after getting a false ID by the name of Jerome. He sharpened his game at the casinos of Atlantic City. The first number of years for Phil were a teaching experience and coming away with a win wasn’t a normal outcome at the time. He became known at the 2000 WSOP where he made two final tables and came away with his first WSOP bracelet, in a two dollar, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha game. At the final table he destroyed quite a few of the better known pros which includes "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
He decided to take his skills 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 in the world. Ivey credits his achievements to discipline and an eternal love for the game of poker. He says that he is learning every day and is very humble about his accomplishments. He admits to making mistakes every single session of poker and always aspires to get better.
Even though Ivey has come first in some large tournaments, he prefers winning money games on a normal basis.