Phil Ivey has been branded as the best poker competitor on the globe by many of the top-ranked pros. Phil Ivey was born in Riverside, CA and relocated to Jersey before reaching turning one. His grandpa taught Phil one cent-ante 5-Card Stud poker. From that point on, he was hooked on poker and wanted to learn whatever he possibly could about the game. He routinely would tell his grandparents that he was going to be a professional poker player. Phil did not permit the negative comments from other people annihilate his ambition of being one of the best poker competitors on the planet.
Phil started playing seriously after getting a false ID by the name of Jerome. He honed his game at the poker rooms in Atlantic City. The first few years for Phil were a learning period and coming away with a win was not a common outcome at the time. Phil became known at the 2000 World Series of Poker where he achieved 2 final tables and won his first WSOP bracelet, in a $2, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha game. At the last table he defeated many of the well known pros including "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
Phil made a decision to take his game to the successive level and headed out west to Las Vegas. He continues to compete in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the greatest players on the planet. Phil credits his success to dedication and a continuing passion for the game of poker. He says that he is picking up skills every day and is quite abashed about his accomplishments. Phil admits to making mistakes in each session of poker and always strives to improve.
Although Ivey has come first in some big tournaments, he favors winning money games on a regular basis.