Phil Ivey has been branded as the best poker competitor on the globe by many of the top-ranked professionals. Phil Ivey was born in Riverside, CA and moved to NJ before his first birthday. His grandfather showed him to one cent-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From that point on, Phil was hooked on poker and wished to pickup whatever he could about poker. Phil routinely told his elders that he wanted to be a professional poker player. He did not permit the negative comments from others destroy his goal of becoming one of the best poker players on the planet.
He began competing seriously after acquiring a false ID by the name of Jerome. He honed his skills at the poker rooms in Atlantic City. The first few years for him were a teaching period and coming away with a win wasn’t a normal outcome at the time. He made his mark at the 2000 World Series of Poker when he made two final tables and came away with his first World Series of Poker bracelet, in a two dollar, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha match. At the final table he defeated a number of the well known pros which includes "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
He made a decision to take his skills to the successive level and moved out west to Las Vegas. 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 immeasurable love for the game of poker. Phil states that he is learning every day and is very abashed about his accomplishments. He knows he makes errors in each game of poker and always strives to get better.
Although Phil has come first in some big tournaments, he favors destroying money games on a regular basis.