Phil Ivey has been branded as the best poker competitor on the planet by many of the top-ranked professionals. Phil Ivey was born in Riverside, CA and moved to New Jersey before reaching the age of one. His papa taught Phil one cent-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From that point on, he was hooked on poker and wanted to learn everything he could about poker. He routinely would tell his grandparents that he wanted to be a professional poker player. He did not allow the negative feedback from others destroy his ambition of becoming one of the best poker competitors on the planet.
Phil began competing intently after getting a fake ID with the name of Jerome. He honed his skills at the casinos in Atlantic City. The beginning few years for him were a teaching period and winning wasn’t a common outcome at the time. Phil became known at the 2000 World Series of Poker when he achieved 2 final tables and won his 1st WSOP bracelet, in a two dollar, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha match. At the last table he destroyed many of the well known professionals which includes "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
Phil made a decision to take his skills to the next level and headed out west to Las Vegas. He continues to play in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the greatest players in the world. Ivey credits his achievements to hard work and an undying love for poker. Phil states that he is learning every single day and is very humble about his achievements. He admits to making mistakes every single game of poker and constantly strives to improve.
Despite the fact that Phil has won some big tournaments, he likes winning cash games on a normal basis.