Phil Ivey has been labeled as the number one poker competitor on the planet by quite a few of the top-ranked pros. He was born in Riverside, CA and relocated to Jersey before reaching the age of one. His papa taught Phil one cent-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From then on on, Phil was addicted to poker and wished to pickup anything he possibly could about poker. He routinely told his parents that he was planning on being a professional poker player. He did not permit the adverse feedback from others destroy his ambition of becoming one of the greatest poker competitors in the world.
He started competing seriously after getting a false ID by the name of Jerome. He honed his abilities at the poker rooms of Atlantic City. The beginning few years for Phil were a teaching experience and winning was not a regular outcome at the time. He became known at the 2000 World Series of Poker when he made 2 final tables and won his first WSOP bracelet, in a two dollar, 500 Pot-Limit Omaha event. At the final table he destroyed many 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 game to the next level and headed out west to Sin City. Phil continues to compete in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the greatest players in the world. Phil credits his success to hard work and an undying love for poker. He says that he’s learning every single day and is incredibly abashed about his achievements. He knows he makes mistakes in each game of poker and always strives to get better.
Despite the fact that Ivey has won some large tournaments, he prefers destroying money games on a regular basis.