Phil Ivey has been branded as the number one poker player on the planet by many of the top-ranked pros. He was born in Riverside, CA and moved to NJ before his first birthday. His papa taught Phil one cent-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From that point on, Phil was hooked on poker and wanted to pickup whatever he could about poker. He would tell his parents that he wanted to be a professional poker player. Phil didn’t permit the detrimental feedback from others kill his ambition of being one of the greatest poker players on the planet.
He started playing seriously after acquiring a false ID by the name of Jerome. He practiced his skills at the poker rooms of Atlantic City. The first number of years for him were a learning period and coming away with a win was not a common outcome at the time. He became known at the 2000 WSOP when he made 2 final tables and came away with his first WSOP bracelet, in a $2, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha game. At the closing table he destroyed quite a few of the better known pros which includes "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
He decided to take his skills to the next level and headed out west to Vegas. He continues to participate in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the greatest players on the planet. Phil credits his achievements to hard work and an eternal love for poker. Phil states that he’s picking up skills every single day and is very humble about his achievements. Phil knows he makes mistakes in each session of poker and always strives to improve.
Despite the fact that Ivey has come first in some large tournaments, he favors winning money games on a regular basis.