Phil Ivey has been branded as the greatest poker competitor on the planet by many of the top professionals. He was born in Riverside, CA and relocated to Jersey before reaching turning 1. His papa introduced him to one cent-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From that point on, he was addicted to poker and wanted to learn everything he could about poker. He routinely told his grandparents that he was going to be a professional poker player. Phil did not permit the negative feedback from others destroy his ambition of being one of the best poker competitors on the planet.
He started playing intently after getting a fake ID with the name of Jerome. He practiced his abilities at the casinos in Atlantic City. The initial number of years for him were a teaching opportunity and coming away with a win was not a common thing at the time. He made his mark at the 2000 WSOP when he made 2 final tables and won his first WSOP bracelet, in a two dollar, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha game. At the closing 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 game to the successive level and moved out west to Vegas. Phil continues to compete in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the best players in the world. Phil credits his achievements to hard work and a continuing love for the game of poker. He states that he is picking up skills every day and is quite humble about his success. Phil knows he makes mistakes every single game of poker and always aspires to get better.
Despite the fact that Ivey has won some large tournaments, he likes winning cash games on a regular basis.