Phil Ivey has been labeled as the number one poker contender on the planet by many of the top-ranked professionals. Phil Ivey was born in Riverside, CA and relocated to NJ before his first birthday. His grandfather introduced him to one cent-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From that point on, Phil was addicted to poker and wanted to discover every little thing he could about the game. Phil routinely told his grandparents that he wanted to be a professional poker player. Phil didn’t permit the detrimental comments from others annihilate his ambition of being one of the strongest poker players in the world.
He started playing seriously after getting a fake ID by the name of Jerome. He honed his techniques at the casinos of Atlantic City. The beginning few years for Phil were a teaching period and winning wasn’t a common outcome at the time. Phil made his mark at the 2000 WSOP where he achieved 2 final tables and won his 1st WSOP bracelet, in a $2, 500 Pot-Limit Omaha event. At the last table he destroyed many of the better known pros including "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
He made a decision to take his skills to the successive level and headed out west to Las Vegas. Phil continues to compete in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the greatest players on the planet. Phil credits his success to discipline and an undying love for poker. Phil says that he’s picking up skills every single day and is quite abashed about his achievements. Phil knows he makes blunders every single game of poker and constantly strives to get better.
Despite the fact that Phil has won some big tournaments, he favors destroying cash games on a normal basis.