Phil Ivey has been referred to as the greatest poker competitor in the world by many of the top-ranked pros. Phil was born in Riverside, CA and relocated to Jersey before reaching turning 1. His grandfather showed him to one cent-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From that point on, he was hooked on poker and wished to discover anything he could about the game. Phil routinely would tell his grandparents that he was going to be a professional poker player. Phil did not allow the adverse feedback from other people annihilate his ambition of becoming one of the best poker competitors in the world.
Phil started playing intently after getting a false ID by the name of Jerome. He practiced his techniques at the casinos of Atlantic City. The initial number of years for him were a learning experience and coming away with a win was not a regular outcome at the time. He made his mark at the 2000 World Series of Poker where he made 2 final tables and won his first WSOP bracelet, in a $2, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha event. At the closing table he defeated quite a few 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 game to the successive level and moved out west to Vegas. Phil continues to play in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the greatest players on the planet. Ivey credits his achievements to hard work and a continuing love for the game of poker. He states that he’s picking up skills every day and is quite humble about his achievements. Phil knows he makes blunders in each game of poker and always aspires to improve.
Even though Ivey has won some large tournaments, he favors destroying money games on a normal basis.