Phil Ivey has been labeled as the greatest poker contender in the world by quite a few of the top professionals. Phil was born in Riverside, CA and moved to Jersey before his first birthday. His papa taught Phil one cent-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From then on on, Phil was addicted to poker and wanted to discover anything he could about poker. Phil routinely told his parents that he was planning on being a professional poker player. He did not let the negative comments from other people annihilate his dream of being one of the strongest poker players on the planet.
He began playing seriously after acquiring a fake ID by the name of Jerome. He honed his game at the casinos in Atlantic City. The initial number of years for Phil were a teaching period and winning was not a normal outcome at the time. Phil made his mark at the 2000 WSOP when he achieved two final tables and won his first WSOP bracelet, in a two dollar, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha game. At the last table he defeated a number of the well known professionals which includes "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
Phil decided to take his game to the next level and headed out west to Sin City. He continues to play in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the greatest players in the world. Phil credits his success to discipline and an immeasurable passion for poker. He says that he’s learning every single day and is quite humble about his achievements. Phil knows he makes mistakes every single game of poker and always strives to improve.
Despite the fact that Ivey has come first in some big-time tournaments, he favors destroying cash games on a regular basis.