Phil Ivey has been labeled as the number one poker player in the world by quite a few of the top pros. Phil was born in Riverside, CA and moved to Jersey before reaching turning one. His grandpa taught him one cent-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From then on on, he was hooked on poker and wanted to pickup everything he possibly could about the game. Phil routinely told his grandparents that he was planning on being a professional poker player. He didn’t permit the negative feedback from others destroy his dream of being one of the greatest poker players in the world.
Phil began competing seriously after acquiring a fake ID with the name of Jerome. He practiced his skills at the poker rooms of Atlantic City. The first number of years for Phil were a learning experience and winning wasn’t a common outcome at the time. Phil made his mark at the 2000 World Series of Poker where he made two final tables and came away with his 1st WSOP bracelet, in a $2, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha event. At the last table he destroyed many of the well known professionals including "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
Phil made a decision to take his game to the successive level and moved out west to Sin City. Phil continues to play in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the greatest players on the planet. Ivey credits his achievements to discipline and a continuing passion for poker. Phil says that he’s picking up skills every single day and is very humble about his achievements. He knows he makes errors in each game of poker and constantly aspires to get better.
Even though Ivey has won some large tournaments, he prefers destroying cash games on a normal basis.