Phil Ivey has been branded as the number one poker competitor on the globe by quite a few of the top professionals. Phil was born in Riverside, CA and relocated to New Jersey before reaching the age of one. His grandpa taught him penny-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From then on on, Phil was addicted to poker and wished to pickup every little thing he could about poker. He routinely told his elders that he was going to be a professional poker player. Phil did not allow the negative comments from others annihilate his dream of being one of the greatest poker players on the planet.
Phil started competing seriously after acquiring a false ID by the name of Jerome. He practiced his skills at the poker rooms in Atlantic City. The first few years for him were a learning period and coming away with a win was not a common thing at the time. Phil made his mark at the 2000 WSOP when he achieved 2 final tables and won his first World Series of Poker bracelet, in a $2, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha game. At the last table he destroyed a number of the well known professionals including but not limited to "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
Phil decided to take his skills to the successive level and headed out west to Las Vegas. Phil continues to play in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the greatest players in the world. Ivey credits his success to dedication and an undying passion for the game of poker. He states that he’s learning every day and is quite humble about his success. Phil knows he makes blunders every single session of poker and constantly strives to improve.
Although Phil has come first in some big-time tournaments, he prefers destroying money games on a normal basis.