Phil Ivey has been branded as the number one poker contender on the planet by many of the top professionals. He was born in Riverside, CA and moved to NJ before his first birthday. His papa showed him to penny-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From that point on, Phil was hooked on poker and wished to pickup anything he could about poker. He routinely told his elders that he was going to be a professional poker player. He did not permit the negative feedback from other people annihilate his ambition of becoming one of the best poker competitors in the world.
Phil began competing intently after acquiring a fake ID with the name of Jerome. He practiced his techniques at the casinos of Atlantic City. The beginning number of years for him were a teaching opportunity and coming away with a win was not a common thing at the time. Phil became known at the 2000 World Series of Poker when he achieved 2 final tables and won his first WSOP bracelet, in a $2, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha event. At the final table he destroyed a number of the well known professionals which includes "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
He decided to take his skills to the next level and headed out west to Vegas. He continues to participate in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the greatest players on the planet. Ivey credits his success to dedication and an undying love for the game of poker. Phil says that he is picking up skills every day and is incredibly abashed about his achievements. Phil admits to making mistakes in each session of poker and constantly strives to get better.
Despite the fact that Phil has come first in some big-time tournaments, he prefers destroying money games on a regular basis.