Phil Ivey has been branded as the greatest poker player in the world by quite a few of the top professionals. He was born in Riverside, CA and moved to New Jersey before his first birthday. His grandfather showed him to penny-ante 5-Card Stud poker. From that point on, Phil was hooked on poker and wanted to pickup anything he could about the game. He routinely would tell his elders that he was going to be a professional poker player. Phil didn’t permit the negative feedback from other people destroy his goal of being one of the greatest poker competitors in the world.
Phil began competing intently after acquiring a false ID by the name of Jerome. He practiced his game at the poker rooms in Atlantic City. The beginning number of years for him were a learning experience and coming away with a win wasn’t a common outcome at the time. He made his mark at the 2000 WSOP when he made two final tables and came away with his 1st WSOP bracelet, in a $2, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha event. At the final table he destroyed a number of the better known pros including "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
He decided to take his skills to the successive level and headed out west to Vegas. He continues to compete in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the best players on the planet. Phil credits his success to dedication and an undying love for the game of poker. He says that he’s picking up skills every single day and is very humble about his achievements. Phil knows he makes errors in each game of poker and always aspires to get better.
Although Phil has won some big-time tournaments, he likes winning money games on a normal basis.