Phil Ivey has been labeled as the best poker competitor on the planet by quite a few of the top pros. Phil was born in Riverside, CA and moved to New Jersey before reaching the age of 1. His grandpa showed him to one cent-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From then on on, Phil was hooked on poker and wanted to pickup every little thing he possibly could about poker. Phil would tell his elders that he was going to be a professional poker player. Phil did not permit the detrimental comments from others destroy his dream of becoming one of the strongest poker players in the world.
He started playing seriously after acquiring a false ID by the name of Jerome. He honed his techniques at the poker rooms of Atlantic City. The beginning few years for him were a teaching period and coming away with a win wasn’t a normal thing at the time. Phil made his mark at the 2000 WSOP when he made 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 quite a few of the better known professionals including but not limited to "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
Phil made a decision to take his game to the next level and headed out west to Sin City. Phil continues to compete in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the greatest players on the planet. Phil credits his achievements to hard work and a continuing love for poker. He states that he is learning every single day and is quite humble about his success. He admits to making errors in each session of poker and always strives to improve.
Despite the fact that Phil has come first in some big-time tournaments, he prefers winning cash games on a normal basis.