Phil Ivey has been referred to as the greatest poker competitor in the world by most of the top-ranked pros. Phil Ivey was born in Riverside, CA and moved to New Jersey before his first birthday. His grandfather introduced him to one cent-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From then on on, Phil was hooked on poker and wanted to discover every little thing he possibly could about the game. He routinely would tell his elders that he was planning on being a professional poker player. Phil did not permit the adverse feedback from others destroy his ambition of being one of the strongest poker players on the planet.
Phil began competing intently after acquiring a false ID by the name of Jerome. He honed his techniques at the poker rooms in Atlantic City. The initial few years for him were a learning opportunity and coming away with a win wasn’t a common outcome at the time. He made his mark at the 2000 WSOP when he made two final tables and won his first WSOP bracelet, in a $2, 500 Pot-Limit Omaha event. At the closing table he defeated quite a few of the well known pros including but not limited to "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
He made a decision 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 greatest players in the world. Ivey credits his success to discipline and a continuing passion for the game of poker. Phil states that he is picking up skills every single day and is quite humble about his achievements. Phil admits to making errors in each session of poker and always aspires to get better.
Despite the fact that Ivey has come first in some big tournaments, he likes winning cash games on a regular basis.