Phil Ivey has been labeled as the greatest poker contender in the world by most of the top pros. He was born in Riverside, CA and moved to New Jersey before his first birthday. His grandpa showed him to penny-ante 5-Card Stud poker. From then on on, he was addicted to poker and wished to discover anything he possibly could about the game. He would tell his grandparents that he wanted to be a professional poker player. He didn’t allow the negative feedback from others annihilate his goal of being one of the best poker competitors in the world.
He began playing seriously after getting a false ID by the name of Jerome. He honed his skills at the poker rooms of Atlantic City. The initial few years for Phil were a learning period and coming away with a win wasn’t a normal outcome at the time. Phil became known at the 2000 World Series of Poker where he made two final tables and won his 1st WSOP bracelet, in a two dollar, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha event. At the last table he defeated quite a few of the better known pros which includes "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
Phil decided to take his skills to the successive level and headed out west to Las Vegas. Phil continues to participate in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the greatest players in the world. Ivey credits his success to hard work and an immeasurable passion for the game of poker. He states that he’s learning every single day and is quite abashed about his accomplishments. Phil admits to making mistakes in each session of poker and constantly strives to improve.
Although Phil has come first in some big-time tournaments, he favors destroying cash games on a normal basis.
