Phil Ivey has been labeled as the greatest poker player on the planet by most of the top pros. Phil was born in Riverside, CA and moved to Jersey before his first birthday. His grandfather introduced him to penny-ante 5-Card Stud poker. From then on on, Phil was addicted to poker and wished to discover every little thing he could about poker. Phil routinely would tell his parents that he wanted to be a professional poker player. He did not allow the negative feedback from others annihilate his ambition of being one of the greatest poker competitors in the world.
Phil started competing seriously after acquiring a fake ID by the name of Jerome. He honed his abilities at the poker rooms of Atlantic City. The initial few years for him were a teaching period and coming away with a win wasn’t a common outcome at the time. He made his mark at the 2000 World Series of Poker when he made two final tables and won his first WSOP bracelet, in a $2, 500 Pot-Limit Omaha event. At the closing table he destroyed many of the better known professionals including "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
He decided to take his skills to the successive level and moved out west to Vegas. He continues to compete in 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 the game of poker. Phil states that he is learning every day and is quite abashed about his success. Phil knows he makes blunders in each session of poker and always strives to get better.
Although Ivey has won some big-time tournaments, he likes winning cash games on a regular basis.