Phil Ivey has been labeled as the number one poker competitor on the globe by many of the top pros. He was born in Riverside, CA and relocated to NJ before reaching turning 1. His grandfather taught him penny-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From that point on, he was addicted to poker and wanted to learn every little thing he could about the game. Phil routinely told his parents that he was going to be a professional poker player. He did not allow the detrimental comments from others annihilate his ambition of being one of the best poker competitors on the planet.
Phil started competing seriously after getting a false ID with the name of Jerome. He honed his abilities at the casinos in Atlantic City. The first few years for him were a learning period and winning wasn’t a normal outcome at the time. Phil made his mark at the 2000 World Series of Poker where he made 2 final tables and came away with his first WSOP bracelet, in a two dollar, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha game. At the closing table he defeated a number of the better known pros including but not limited to "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
He decided to take his skills to the successive level and moved out west to Vegas. Phil continues to participate in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the best players on the planet. Phil credits his success to hard work and an undying passion for the game of poker. He says that he’s learning every single day and is very abashed about his accomplishments. Phil knows he makes blunders every single game of poker and constantly strives to improve.
Despite the fact that Ivey has come first in some large tournaments, he favors destroying cash games on a normal basis.