Phil Ivey has been labeled as the best poker competitor in the world by quite a few of the top-ranked pros. He was born in Riverside, CA and moved to New Jersey before reaching turning one. His grandpa showed him to one cent-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From then on on, he was addicted to poker and wanted to learn every little thing he could about the game. He routinely would tell his grandparents that he was planning on being a professional poker player. He did not let the negative feedback from others destroy his goal of becoming one of the strongest poker players on the planet.
He began competing seriously after getting a false ID with the name of Jerome. He honed his skills at the casinos in Atlantic City. The beginning few years for him were a learning experience and winning wasn’t a common thing at the time. Phil made his mark at the 2000 World Series of Poker where he made two final tables and won his 1st World Series of Poker bracelet, in a two dollar, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha event. At the last table he defeated many 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 game to the successive level and moved out west to Sin City. Phil continues to compete in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the best players in the world. Ivey credits his success to discipline and a continuing passion for poker. He states that he’s picking up skills every single day and is incredibly abashed about his accomplishments. He admits to making errors in each session of poker and always strives to improve.
Despite the fact that Ivey has come first in some big-time tournaments, he favors destroying cash games on a normal basis.
