Phil Ivey has been branded as the best poker competitor on the globe by many of the top pros. Phil Ivey was born in Riverside, CA and moved to NJ before his first birthday. His grandfather introduced him to one cent-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From then on on, Phil was addicted to poker and wanted to pickup whatever he could about the game. He would tell his parents that he was planning on being a professional poker player. Phil didn’t permit the adverse comments from others annihilate his goal of becoming one of the strongest poker competitors on the planet.
Phil began playing seriously after acquiring a fake ID with the name of Jerome. He sharpened his techniques at the poker rooms of Atlantic City. The initial few years for Phil were a learning experience and winning wasn’t a regular thing at the time. He made his mark at the 2000 World Series of Poker when he made 2 final tables and came away with his 1st WSOP bracelet, in a two dollar, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha match. At the final table he destroyed a number of the better known pros which includes "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. He continues to participate in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the greatest players in the world. Ivey credits his success to hard work and an immeasurable love for poker. He states that he is picking up skills every day and is incredibly humble about his achievements. He knows he makes errors in each session of poker and always strives to improve.
Although Ivey has won some big-time tournaments, he prefers winning cash games on a normal basis.