Phil Ivey has been referred to as the greatest poker competitor on the planet by many of the top professionals. He was born in Riverside, CA and moved to Jersey before reaching the age of one. His papa taught him penny-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From that point on, Phil was addicted to poker and wished to learn every little thing he could about the game. He routinely told his grandparents that he was going to be a professional poker player. Phil didn’t permit the detrimental feedback from other people kill his ambition of being one of the best poker competitors in the world.
Phil started competing intently after getting a fake ID with the name of Jerome. He sharpened his abilities at the casinos of Atlantic City. The first few years for him were a learning period and winning wasn’t a common outcome at the time. He became known at the 2000 WSOP where he achieved 2 final tables and won his first WSOP bracelet, in a $2, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha game. At the last table he destroyed many of the well known pros including "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
Phil made a decision to take his game to the next level and moved out west to Las Vegas. He continues to compete in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the greatest players on the planet. Ivey credits his success to hard work and a continuing love for poker. Phil says that he is learning every single day and is quite abashed about his accomplishments. Phil admits to making mistakes every single session of poker and always aspires to improve.
Despite the fact that Ivey has come first in some big tournaments, he likes destroying cash games on a regular basis.