Phil Ivey has been labeled as the greatest poker player in the world by quite a few of the top pros. He was born in Riverside, CA and moved to Jersey before his first birthday. His papa taught him one cent-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From then on on, he was hooked on poker and wanted to pickup every little thing he could about the game. Phil routinely told his elders that he wanted to be a professional poker player. Phil didn’t allow the negative feedback from others destroy his dream of being one of the greatest poker competitors on the planet.
He started playing seriously after acquiring a false ID with the name of Jerome. He honed his abilities at the casinos of Atlantic City. The initial number of years for him were a teaching period and coming away with a win was not a normal thing at the time. He became known at the 2000 WSOP when he made two final tables and won his first WSOP bracelet, in a two dollar, 500 Pot-Limit Omaha event. At the closing table he defeated 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 game to the successive level and moved out west to Las Vegas. Phil continues to play in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the greatest players in the world. Ivey credits his success to discipline and an immeasurable passion for poker. He states that he’s learning every day and is incredibly abashed about his success. Phil knows he makes blunders every single session of poker and constantly aspires to get better.
Despite the fact that Phil has come first in some big-time tournaments, he favors destroying cash games on a regular basis.