Phil Ivey has been referred to as the number one poker contender on the planet by many of the top pros. Phil was born in Riverside, CA and moved to Jersey before reaching the age of one. His grandpa taught him penny-ante 5-Card Stud poker. From that point on, he was hooked on poker and wanted to pickup whatever he possibly could about the game. He would tell his elders that he wanted to be a professional poker player. Phil did not let the detrimental feedback from other people annihilate his goal of being one of the best poker competitors in the world.
He began competing seriously after getting a false ID with the name of Jerome. He practiced his abilities at the poker rooms of Atlantic City. The first number of years for him were a teaching period and coming away with a win wasn’t a normal outcome at the time. Phil became known at the 2000 WSOP where he made two final tables and won his first WSOP bracelet, in a two dollar, 500 Pot-Limit Omaha event. At the final table he destroyed a number of the well known pros including but not limited to "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
Phil decided to take his skills to the next level and moved out west to Vegas. He continues to play in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the greatest players on the planet. Phil credits his success to hard work and an eternal love for poker. He states that he’s learning every single day and is quite humble about his success. Phil knows he makes blunders in each game of poker and constantly strives to get better.
Despite the fact that Ivey has come first in some big tournaments, he favors destroying cash games on a regular basis.