Phil Ivey has been labeled as the number one poker competitor on the planet by many of the top-ranked pros. Phil Ivey was born in Riverside, CA and moved to NJ before reaching turning 1. His papa taught Phil one cent-ante 5-Card Stud poker. From that point on, he was hooked on poker and wished to learn whatever he could about poker. He routinely would tell his elders that he wanted to be a professional poker player. He didn’t allow the adverse comments from others kill his goal of being one of the strongest poker competitors on the planet.
He began competing intently after acquiring a fake ID by the name of Jerome. He honed his game at the poker rooms in Atlantic City. The beginning few years for him were a teaching period and coming away with a win was not a common outcome at the time. Phil became known at the 2000 World Series of Poker where he made two final tables and came away with his first WSOP bracelet, in a two dollar, 500 Pot-Limit Omaha event. At the final table he destroyed a number of the well known pros including but not limited to "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
Phil made a decision to take his skills to the successive level and headed out west to Vegas. He continues to participate in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the greatest players in the world. Phil credits his success to hard work and an undying passion for poker. He states that he’s learning every day and is quite abashed about his accomplishments. Phil knows he makes mistakes in each game of poker and constantly strives to improve.
Despite the fact that Ivey has come first in some big tournaments, he favors destroying money games on a normal basis.