Phil Ivey has been branded as the best poker competitor on the globe by many of the top professionals. He was born in Riverside, CA and moved to NJ before reaching turning 1. His grandpa taught Phil one cent-ante 5-Card Stud poker. From that point on, Phil was addicted to poker and wanted to pickup whatever he could about the game. He routinely told his parents that he wanted to be a professional poker player. Phil did not allow the negative feedback from others destroy his dream of being one of the strongest poker players on the planet.
He began competing intently after getting a fake ID by the name of Jerome. He practiced his skills at the casinos in Atlantic City. The beginning few years for him were a learning experience and winning was not a normal thing at the time. Phil made his mark at the 2000 World Series of Poker where he achieved two 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 destroyed many of the better known pros including but not limited to "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
He decided to take his game to the successive level and moved out west to Las Vegas. Phil continues to compete in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the best players in the world. Phil credits his success to hard work and an eternal passion for the game of poker. He states that he’s picking up skills every single day and is very humble about his accomplishments. Phil knows he makes mistakes every single session of poker and always aspires to improve.
Even though Ivey has come first in some large tournaments, he likes destroying cash games on a normal basis.
