Phil Ivey has been labeled as the greatest poker contender on the globe by many of the top-ranked pros. Phil was born in Riverside, CA and relocated to Jersey before his first birthday. His papa taught Phil one cent-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From then on on, he was addicted to poker and wanted to discover anything he could about poker. Phil routinely told his parents that he was going to be a professional poker player. Phil did not let the negative feedback from others destroy his ambition of being one of the greatest poker players on the planet.
He began playing seriously after getting a false ID by the name of Jerome. He sharpened his skills at the poker rooms in Atlantic City. The initial few years for Phil were a learning period and winning wasn’t a normal thing at the time. Phil made his mark at the 2000 World Series of Poker where he made two final tables and came away with his first WSOP bracelet, in a two dollar, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha match. At the final table he defeated many of the better known professionals including but not limited to "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
He made a decision to take his game 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 in the world. Ivey credits his achievements to discipline and a continuing love for poker. He says that he’s picking up skills every single day and is very humble about his success. He knows he makes errors in each game of poker and always strives to get better.
Even though Ivey has come first in some big-time tournaments, he likes destroying money games on a normal basis.
