Phil Ivey has been branded as the number one poker competitor on the planet by many of the top professionals. Phil Ivey was born in Riverside, CA and relocated to New Jersey before his first birthday. His grandpa taught him penny-ante 5-Card Stud poker. From then on on, he was hooked on poker and wanted to learn every little thing he could about poker. He would tell his grandparents that he was going to be a professional poker player. He did not let the detrimental feedback from other people kill his ambition of becoming one of the best poker players on the planet.
Phil began competing intently after acquiring a false ID with the name of Jerome. He sharpened his techniques at the poker rooms of Atlantic City. The beginning number of years for him were a teaching period and coming away with a win was not a common thing at the time. Phil made his mark at the 2000 World Series of Poker when he achieved two final tables and came away with his first WSOP bracelet, in a two dollar, 500 Pot-Limit Omaha game. At the final 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 headed out west to Vegas. Phil continues to play in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the greatest players on the planet. Ivey credits his achievements to discipline and a continuing passion for poker. Phil says that he’s picking up skills every day and is very abashed about his achievements. Phil knows he makes mistakes every single game of poker and constantly strives to improve.
Although Ivey has come first in some big-time tournaments, he favors winning money games on a regular basis.