Phil Ivey has been branded as the greatest poker contender in the world by many of the top pros. Phil Ivey was born in Riverside, CA and relocated to New Jersey before his first birthday. His grandpa taught him penny-ante 5-Card Stud poker. From then on on, he was addicted to poker and wanted to learn whatever he possibly could about the game. Phil routinely told his parents that he was planning on being a professional poker player. He didn’t allow the negative feedback from other people annihilate his goal of being one of the best poker players on the planet.
Phil started competing seriously after acquiring a fake ID by the name of Jerome. He honed his game at the casinos of Atlantic City. The first number of years for him were a learning period and winning wasn’t a common outcome at the time. Phil became known at the 2000 WSOP where he achieved 2 final tables and won his first World Series of Poker bracelet, in a $2, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha match. At the closing table he defeated quite a few of the better known pros including but not limited to "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
Phil decided to take his skills to the next level and headed out west to Vegas. He continues to play in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the best players on the planet. Ivey credits his achievements to hard work and an eternal love for the game of poker. He states that he’s picking up skills every day and is very abashed about his accomplishments. He knows he makes errors every single game of poker and always strives to get better.
Despite the fact that Phil has come first in some big-time tournaments, he prefers winning money games on a normal basis.
