Phil Ivey has been branded as the greatest poker contender on the globe by most of the top pros. Phil Ivey was born in Riverside, CA and moved to Jersey before his first birthday. His grandpa taught him penny-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From that point on, he was addicted to poker and wanted to learn every little thing he could about the game. He would tell his elders that he was planning on being a professional poker player. Phil didn’t allow the detrimental comments from others annihilate his ambition of becoming one of the best poker players on the planet.
Phil began playing seriously after getting a false ID with the name of Jerome. He practiced his skills at the casinos in Atlantic City. The first few years for him were a learning period and coming away with a win wasn’t a common thing at the time. He became known at the 2000 WSOP where he achieved two final tables and won his first World Series of Poker bracelet, in a $2, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha game. At the closing table he defeated quite a few of the well known pros including "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
He made a decision to take his skills to the next level and headed out west to Sin City. He continues to play in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the greatest players on the planet. Phil credits his success to dedication and an eternal passion for poker. He says that he is picking up skills every day and is quite humble about his success. Phil knows he makes blunders every single game of poker and always aspires to improve.
Even though Ivey has won some large tournaments, he prefers destroying money games on a normal basis.