Phil Ivey has been labeled as the number one poker player in the world by many of the top-ranked pros. He was born in Riverside, CA and moved to Jersey before his first birthday. His grandpa taught him one cent-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From then on on, he was hooked on poker and wanted to discover anything he possibly could about poker. Phil routinely would tell his elders that he was planning on being a professional poker player. Phil didn’t permit the adverse comments from others kill his dream of being one of the strongest poker competitors on the planet.
Phil started playing intently after acquiring a fake ID by the name of Jerome. He honed his techniques at the poker rooms in Atlantic City. The first few years for Phil were a teaching period and coming away with a win wasn’t a regular outcome at the time. He made his mark at the 2000 WSOP when he achieved 2 final tables and won his 1st World Series of Poker bracelet, in a $2, 500 Pot-Limit Omaha match. At the final table he destroyed a number of the better known professionals including but not limited to "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. He continues to participate in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the greatest players on the planet. Ivey credits his achievements to discipline and an eternal love for poker. He says that he is learning every single day and is incredibly abashed about his accomplishments. He knows he makes errors every single game of poker and always strives to get better.
Despite the fact that Ivey has come first in some big-time tournaments, he prefers destroying cash games on a normal basis.