Phil Ivey has been branded as the best poker competitor on the planet by many of the top pros. He was born in Riverside, CA and moved to New Jersey before his first birthday. His grandfather introduced him to one cent-ante 5-Card Stud poker. From then on on, he was hooked on poker and wished to discover everything he could about the game. Phil routinely would tell his parents that he wanted to be a professional poker player. Phil did not allow the negative comments from others destroy his ambition of becoming one of the strongest poker competitors on the planet.
He began competing seriously after getting a false ID with the name of Jerome. He practiced his techniques at the poker rooms in Atlantic City. The first few years for him were a learning period and winning wasn’t a common outcome at the time. Phil became known at the 2000 World Series of Poker when he achieved two final tables and won his first WSOP bracelet, in a two dollar, 500 Pot-Limit Omaha match. At the last table he defeated many of the well known pros including "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
He made a decision to take his game to the next level and headed out west to Las Vegas. Phil continues to compete in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the best players on the planet. Phil credits his achievements to discipline and a continuing passion for the game of poker. He states that he’s learning every day and is very humble about his achievements. Phil admits to making blunders every single game of poker and always strives to get better.
Despite the fact that Ivey has won some big-time tournaments, he likes winning money games on a normal basis.