Phil Ivey has been branded as the number one poker player on the planet by many of the top-ranked professionals. Phil was born in Riverside, CA and moved to New Jersey before reaching turning 1. His grandfather showed him to penny-ante 5-Card Stud poker. From that point on, Phil was hooked on poker and wished to pickup everything he possibly could about the game. He would tell his parents that he was going to be a professional poker player. He didn’t let the negative comments from other people kill his ambition of being one of the strongest poker competitors in the world.
Phil began competing seriously after acquiring a false ID by the name of Jerome. He sharpened his techniques at the poker rooms of Atlantic City. The first few years for him were a teaching experience and winning wasn’t a normal thing at the time. Phil made his mark at the 2000 WSOP when he made 2 final tables and won his first World Series of Poker bracelet, in a two dollar, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha event. At the last table he destroyed quite a few of the better known professionals including "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
He decided to take his game to the successive level and headed out west to Vegas. He continues to compete in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the greatest players in the world. Ivey credits his success to discipline and an eternal passion for poker. Phil states that he is picking up skills every day and is incredibly humble about his achievements. He knows he makes blunders in each session of poker and always aspires to improve.
Although Ivey has won some large tournaments, he favors winning cash games on a normal basis.
