Phil Ivey has been branded as the greatest poker contender in the world by many of the top-ranked professionals. Phil was born in Riverside, CA and moved to Jersey before his first birthday. His papa showed him to penny-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From that point on, he was hooked on poker and wanted to learn everything he possibly could about the game. Phil would tell his parents that he was planning on being a professional poker player. He didn’t permit the adverse comments from others kill his ambition of being one of the strongest poker players on the planet.
Phil began competing seriously after acquiring a false ID by the name of Jerome. He practiced his abilities at the poker rooms in Atlantic City. The initial few years for Phil were a learning period and winning was not a normal thing at the time. Phil made his mark at the 2000 WSOP where he made two final tables and came away with his first World Series of Poker bracelet, in a two dollar, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha event. At the final table he defeated quite a few of the better known professionals including "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
He decided to take his skills to the next level and moved out west to Las Vegas. Phil continues to play in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the best players on the planet. Ivey credits his achievements to discipline and an eternal passion for the game of poker. He states that he is learning every day and is quite humble about his success. Phil knows he makes errors every single session of poker and constantly aspires to improve.
Despite the fact that Phil has won some big-time tournaments, he prefers destroying money games on a normal basis.