Phil Ivey has been labeled as the best poker contender on the planet by many of the top-ranked professionals. He was born in Riverside, CA and moved to New Jersey before reaching the age of one. His grandfather taught him penny-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From that point on, Phil was addicted to poker and wished to pickup whatever he possibly could about the game. He routinely would tell his parents that he wanted to be a professional poker player. Phil did not permit the adverse feedback from others kill his ambition of becoming one of the best poker competitors on the planet.
Phil began competing seriously after getting a fake ID with the name of Jerome. He practiced his skills at the casinos of Atlantic City. The initial few years for him were a teaching period and coming away with a win was not a normal thing at the time. Phil made his mark at the 2000 World Series of Poker where he achieved 2 final tables and won 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 professionals including but not limited to "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
He decided to take his skills 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. Ivey credits his achievements to dedication and an eternal love for poker. Phil says that he is picking up skills every day and is quite abashed about his achievements. Phil knows he makes errors every single game of poker and constantly aspires to get better.
Despite the fact that Phil has won some big-time tournaments, he likes winning money games on a normal basis.