Phil Ivey has been labeled as the greatest poker competitor on the globe by most of the top professionals. Phil was born in Riverside, CA and relocated to Jersey before his first birthday. His grandfather introduced him to penny-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From then on on, he was addicted to poker and wished to pickup every little thing he possibly could about the game. Phil routinely told his parents that he wanted to be a professional poker player. He didn’t let the negative feedback from other people destroy his ambition of being one of the greatest poker competitors on the planet.
He started competing seriously after getting a fake ID with the name of Jerome. He practiced his skills at the poker rooms in Atlantic City. The beginning number of years for him were a teaching opportunity and coming away with a win wasn’t a regular thing at the time. Phil made his mark at the 2000 World Series of Poker where he achieved 2 final tables and won his 1st WSOP bracelet, in a $2, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha game. At the closing table he defeated quite a few of the well known professionals including "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
Phil decided to take his game to the next level and headed out west to Vegas. Phil continues to play in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the best players on the planet. Phil credits his success to discipline and an immeasurable passion for the game of poker. Phil states that he is picking up skills every single day and is very abashed about his achievements. Phil knows he makes blunders in each game of poker and always strives to get better.
Although Ivey has come first in some big-time tournaments, he favors winning cash games on a regular basis.