Phil Ivey has been labeled as the best poker player on the planet by most of the top-ranked professionals. He was born in Riverside, CA and relocated to Jersey before reaching turning 1. His grandfather introduced him to penny-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From that point on, he was hooked on poker and wished to pickup everything he possibly could about poker. Phil routinely told his elders that he wanted to be a professional poker player. Phil did not allow the negative comments from others kill his goal of becoming one of the strongest poker competitors in the world.
Phil began competing seriously after getting a false ID by the name of Jerome. He honed his techniques at the poker rooms in Atlantic City. The beginning few years for Phil were a teaching experience and winning wasn’t a normal outcome at the time. He made his mark at the 2000 WSOP where he achieved two final tables and won his 1st WSOP bracelet, in a $2, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha match. At the closing table he destroyed a number of the better known professionals including but not limited to "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
He decided to take his game to the successive level and moved out west to Las 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 eternal love for poker. He states that he is picking up skills every day and is quite humble about his success. Phil admits to making errors every single session of poker and always aspires to improve.
Despite the fact that Ivey has come first in some large tournaments, he favors winning cash games on a regular basis.