Phil Ivey has been labeled as the number one poker competitor in the world by many of the top-ranked pros. He was born in Riverside, CA and relocated to New Jersey before reaching turning 1. His grandpa taught Phil penny-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From then on on, he was hooked on poker and wished to pickup anything he possibly could about poker. He routinely told his parents that he was planning on being a professional poker player. Phil didn’t permit the adverse comments from others destroy his dream of becoming one of the strongest poker players in the world.
Phil started playing intently after getting a fake ID by the name of Jerome. He honed his skills at the poker rooms in Atlantic City. The beginning number of years for Phil were a learning experience and coming away with a win was not a regular thing at the time. Phil became known at the 2000 WSOP where he made 2 final tables and won his 1st WSOP bracelet, in a $2, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha game. At the closing table he destroyed a number of the well known professionals which includes "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
He made a decision to take his game to the successive level and moved out west to Vegas. He 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 eternal love for the game of poker. He states that he’s learning every day and is quite humble about his achievements. Phil knows he makes blunders in each session of poker and constantly aspires to get better.
Even though Ivey has won some big tournaments, he favors winning cash games on a regular basis.