Phil Ivey has been labeled as the greatest poker contender on the globe by most of the top-ranked pros. Phil Ivey was born in Riverside, CA and relocated to New Jersey before his first birthday. His papa showed him to one cent-ante 5-Card Stud poker. From that point on, he was hooked on poker and wanted to learn anything he possibly could about poker. He routinely told his elders that he was going to be a professional poker player. Phil didn’t permit the negative feedback from others destroy his dream of becoming one of the greatest poker players in the world.
Phil began playing seriously after getting a false ID with the name of Jerome. He sharpened his game at the casinos of Atlantic City. The first number of years for Phil were a teaching period and coming away with a win was not a common outcome at the time. He made his mark at the 2000 World Series of Poker where he achieved two final tables and came away with his 1st WSOP bracelet, in a two dollar, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha match. At the final table he destroyed quite a few of the well known pros including "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 compete in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the greatest players in the world. Ivey credits his achievements to hard work and an undying passion for the game of poker. Phil states that he is learning every day and is very abashed about his success. He knows he makes blunders every single game of poker and constantly aspires to get better.
Despite the fact that Ivey has come first in some big-time tournaments, he prefers destroying money games on a normal basis.