Phil Ivey has been referred to as the greatest poker player in the world by many of the top-ranked professionals. He was born in Riverside, CA and relocated to Jersey before reaching the age of one. His grandpa introduced him to one cent-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From then on on, Phil was hooked on poker and wanted to pickup anything he could about the game. He routinely told his elders that he wanted to be a professional poker player. Phil didn’t permit the adverse comments from others annihilate his ambition of becoming one of the strongest poker competitors on the planet.
He began playing seriously after getting a false ID with the name of Jerome. He practiced his game at the poker rooms in Atlantic City. The beginning number of years for Phil were a teaching opportunity and winning wasn’t a regular outcome at the time. He became known at the 2000 WSOP where he made 2 final tables and came away with his first WSOP bracelet, in a two dollar, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha event. At the last 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 moved out west to Las Vegas. Phil continues to participate in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the best players in the world. Ivey credits his success to dedication and a continuing passion for the game of poker. He states that he is learning every single day and is quite abashed about his accomplishments. He knows he makes errors in each session of poker and constantly aspires to get better.
Despite the fact that Ivey has come first in some big tournaments, he favors destroying cash games on a normal basis.