Phil Ivey has been branded as the best poker competitor on the planet by many of the top-ranked professionals. He was born in Riverside, CA and moved to New Jersey before his first birthday. His grandfather showed him to one cent-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From that point on, he was addicted to poker and wished to learn whatever he possibly could about the game. Phil routinely told his grandparents that he was going to be a professional poker player. He didn’t allow the negative feedback from other people destroy his dream of being one of the strongest poker players on the planet.
He started competing intently after acquiring a fake ID with the name of Jerome. He honed his abilities at the poker rooms of Atlantic City. The initial few years for Phil were a teaching period and coming away with a win wasn’t a common thing at the time. Phil became known at the 2000 WSOP when he made two final tables and won his 1st WSOP bracelet, in a $2, 500 Pot-Limit Omaha event. At the last table he defeated quite a few of the better known pros which includes "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
Phil decided to take his game to the successive level and headed out west to Sin City. Phil continues to compete in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the best players in the world. Phil credits his success to discipline and an eternal passion for poker. He states that he’s learning every day and is quite humble about his accomplishments. He admits to making errors every single session of poker and always aspires to improve.
Despite the fact that Phil has come first in some big tournaments, he prefers destroying money games on a regular basis.