Phil Ivey has been branded as the best poker competitor in the world by quite a few of the top professionals. Phil was born in Riverside, CA and moved to NJ before his first birthday. His papa taught him penny-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From that point on, he was addicted to poker and wished to discover anything he could about the game. He routinely told his grandparents that he was going to be a professional poker player. He didn’t allow the negative comments from others destroy his ambition of becoming one of the best poker players on the planet.
He started competing intently after acquiring a false ID by the name of Jerome. He sharpened his skills at the poker rooms in Atlantic City. The first number of years for him were a teaching period and coming away with a win was not a common thing at the time. He made his mark at the 2000 World Series of Poker when he made two final tables and won his first WSOP bracelet, in a $2, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha event. At the last table he destroyed many 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 moved out west to Sin City. Phil continues to participate in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the best players on the planet. Phil credits his success to dedication and an undying love for the game of poker. Phil says that he is learning every day and is incredibly humble about his achievements. He knows he makes mistakes every single session of poker and always aspires to get better.
Even though Phil has come first in some large tournaments, he likes destroying cash games on a normal basis.