Phil Ivey has been branded as the best poker player on the planet by many of the top-ranked professionals. Phil was born in Riverside, CA and relocated to Jersey before his first birthday. His papa taught him one cent-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From then on on, he was hooked on poker and wished to learn anything he could about the game. Phil routinely told his elders that he wanted to be a professional poker player. He did not permit the detrimental feedback from other people destroy his ambition of being one of the greatest poker players in the world.
Phil began competing intently after getting a false ID by the name of Jerome. He honed his game at the poker rooms of Atlantic City. The first number of years for Phil were a teaching experience and coming away with a win was not a normal thing at the time. Phil became known at the 2000 WSOP where he achieved two final tables and came away with his first WSOP bracelet, in a two dollar, 500 Pot-Limit Omaha event. At the final table he destroyed a number of the well known pros including "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 Sin City. He continues to compete in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the best players on the planet. Ivey credits his success to discipline and a continuing passion for poker. Phil states that he is learning every single day and is quite abashed about his success. Phil admits to making blunders every single game of poker and constantly strives to get better.
Although Ivey has come first in some large tournaments, he prefers destroying cash games on a regular basis.
