Phil Ivey has been labeled as the greatest poker competitor on the globe by many of the top-ranked pros. He was born in Riverside, CA and moved to New Jersey before his first birthday. His grandfather introduced him to penny-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From that point on, Phil was hooked on poker and wished to pickup anything he possibly could about the game. Phil routinely told his grandparents that he was going to be a professional poker player. Phil didn’t allow the detrimental comments from others annihilate his goal of being one of the strongest poker competitors in the world.
Phil began competing seriously after getting a fake ID by the name of Jerome. He honed his skills at the poker rooms of Atlantic City. The first few years for him were a teaching experience and winning was not a regular thing at the time. He became known at the 2000 WSOP when he made 2 final tables and came away with his 1st WSOP bracelet, in a two dollar, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha event. At the closing table he destroyed a number of the better known pros including "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 participate in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the greatest players on the planet. Ivey credits his success to hard work and an eternal love for the game of poker. He states that he is picking up skills every day and is very humble about his success. He knows he makes errors every single session of poker and constantly strives to get better.
Despite the fact that Ivey has come first in some large tournaments, he prefers winning cash games on a regular basis.