Phil Ivey has been branded as the greatest poker contender in the world by quite a few of the top pros. He was born in Riverside, CA and moved to New Jersey before reaching the age of 1. His grandfather taught him one cent-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From that point on, Phil was hooked on poker and wished to learn every little thing he could about the game. He routinely would tell his parents that he was planning on being a professional poker player. He did not let the negative feedback from other people kill his dream of becoming one of the strongest poker players on the planet.
Phil started playing seriously after getting a false ID by the name of Jerome. He honed his game at the casinos in Atlantic City. The first few years for him were a teaching experience and winning wasn’t a regular outcome at the time. He made his mark at the 2000 World Series of Poker when he made 2 final tables and came away with his 1st World Series of Poker bracelet, in a $2, 500 Pot-Limit Omaha match. At the closing table he destroyed many of the well known pros which includes "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
Phil decided to take his skills to the next level and headed out west to Vegas. He continues to play in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the best players on the planet. Phil credits his achievements to dedication and a continuing passion for the game of poker. Phil states that he’s picking up skills every day and is very humble about his accomplishments. He admits to making mistakes every single session of poker and always aspires to get better.
Although Ivey has won some big tournaments, he likes destroying cash games on a normal basis.