Phil Ivey has been branded as the greatest poker competitor on the planet by most of the top pros. Phil was born in Riverside, CA and relocated to NJ before reaching turning 1. His grandfather taught him penny-ante 5-Card Stud poker. From then on on, he was addicted to poker and wished to learn whatever he could about the game. He routinely would tell his parents that he wanted to be a professional poker player. Phil didn’t let the adverse comments from other people annihilate his ambition of being one of the strongest poker competitors in the world.
Phil began competing seriously after getting a fake ID by the name of Jerome. He honed his game at the poker rooms of Atlantic City. The first few years for Phil were a learning period and winning was not a common thing at the time. Phil became known at the 2000 World Series of Poker where he achieved 2 final tables and won his 1st World Series of Poker bracelet, in a $2, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha event. At the closing table he destroyed many of the well known professionals including "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
Phil decided to take his skills to the next level and moved out west to Sin City. He continues to play in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the best players in the world. Ivey credits his success to hard work and an immeasurable love for the game of poker. Phil states that he’s learning every day and is very humble about his accomplishments. Phil knows he makes errors every single session of poker and constantly strives to improve.
Despite the fact that Ivey has come first in some big tournaments, he prefers destroying money games on a regular basis.
