Phil Ivey has been branded as the greatest poker player on the planet by most of the top pros. Phil Ivey was born in Riverside, CA and relocated to New Jersey before his first birthday. His papa taught Phil penny-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From that point on, he was addicted to poker and wanted to pickup everything he could about the game. He routinely told his grandparents that he was planning on being a professional poker player. Phil did not allow the negative comments from other people destroy his dream of becoming one of the greatest poker players on the planet.
Phil started playing intently after acquiring a false ID with the name of Jerome. He honed his game at the casinos of Atlantic City. The beginning number of years for Phil were a teaching period and coming away with a win wasn’t a normal outcome at the time. Phil became known at the 2000 WSOP when he achieved 2 final tables and came away with his first WSOP bracelet, in a $2, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha match. At the final table he defeated many of the better known pros including but not limited to "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. He continues to play in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the greatest players on the planet. Ivey credits his achievements to discipline and an undying passion for poker. He states that he is picking up skills every day and is quite humble about his success. He knows he makes errors every single game of poker and always strives to improve.
Even though Phil has come first in some large tournaments, he prefers destroying money games on a normal basis.