Phil Ivey has been branded as the best poker player on the planet by quite a few of the top-ranked pros. He was born in Riverside, CA and relocated to New Jersey before his first birthday. His grandpa taught him penny-ante 5-Card Stud poker. From that point on, Phil was hooked on poker and wanted to learn anything he possibly could about the game. Phil routinely would tell his grandparents that he wanted to be a professional poker player. He did not let the negative comments from others destroy his dream of becoming one of the strongest poker players in the world.
He started playing intently after getting a fake ID by the name of Jerome. He honed his skills at the casinos of Atlantic City. The beginning number of years for him were a learning period and winning wasn’t a normal outcome at the time. He became known at the 2000 World Series of Poker where he achieved 2 final tables and came away with his first WSOP bracelet, in a two dollar, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha event. At the closing table he destroyed a number of the better known professionals which includes "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
He made a decision to take his skills to the next level and moved out west to Sin City. Phil continues to play in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the greatest players on the planet. Phil credits his achievements to discipline and an eternal passion for the game of poker. He says that he is learning every day and is very humble about his accomplishments. Phil admits to making errors in each game of poker and always strives to get better.
Despite the fact that Ivey has won some big-time tournaments, he favors destroying money games on a regular basis.