Phil Ivey has been branded as the best poker player in the world by most of the top-ranked professionals. He was born in Riverside, CA and relocated to NJ before reaching turning one. His papa taught Phil one cent-ante 5-Card Stud poker. From then on on, he was addicted to poker and wished to learn whatever he could about poker. Phil routinely told his parents that he wanted to be a professional poker player. Phil didn’t permit the negative comments from others kill his ambition of becoming one of the greatest poker players in the world.
Phil began competing seriously after acquiring a false ID with the name of Jerome. He honed his game at the poker rooms of Atlantic City. The beginning few years for him were a teaching opportunity and winning wasn’t a normal thing at the time. Phil became known at the 2000 World Series of Poker where he achieved two final tables and came away with his first WSOP bracelet, in a two dollar, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha game. At the last table he destroyed quite a few of the better known pros including "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
Phil decided 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 best players in the world. Ivey credits his success to discipline and an eternal love for poker. Phil states that he is picking up skills every single day and is very abashed about his achievements. He knows he makes errors in each game of poker and constantly strives to get better.
Although Phil has won some big-time tournaments, he prefers destroying money games on a normal basis.