Phil Ivey has been branded as the number one poker competitor on the planet by most of the top pros. Phil was born in Riverside, CA and moved to NJ before reaching turning 1. His grandfather taught him one cent-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From that point on, Phil was addicted to poker and wished to pickup whatever he could about poker. He routinely would tell his parents that he was planning on being a professional poker player. Phil didn’t let the negative comments from other people kill his dream of being one of the strongest poker competitors in the world.
Phil started competing seriously after acquiring a fake ID by the name of Jerome. He practiced his techniques at the poker rooms in Atlantic City. The initial few years for him were a teaching opportunity and coming away with a win was not a regular outcome at the time. Phil became known at the 2000 WSOP when he achieved 2 final tables and won his first WSOP bracelet, in a $2, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha game. At the closing table he defeated a number of the better known pros including "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
He decided to take his game to the next level and headed out west to Las Vegas. He continues to play in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the greatest players on the planet. Ivey credits his success to discipline and an eternal passion for poker. Phil says that he is learning every single day and is very abashed about his achievements. He knows he makes errors in each session of poker and constantly strives to improve.
Despite the fact that Phil has come first in some big-time tournaments, he likes destroying money games on a regular basis.