Phil Ivey has been referred to as the number one poker player in the world by many of the top pros. He was born in Riverside, CA and relocated to Jersey before reaching turning one. His grandpa showed him to penny-ante 5-Card Stud poker. From that point on, he was hooked on poker and wanted to pickup whatever he could about the game. He routinely told his grandparents that he was going to be a professional poker player. Phil didn’t allow the negative feedback from other people destroy his ambition of becoming one of the strongest poker competitors on the planet.
He began playing intently after getting a fake ID by the name of Jerome. He practiced his game at the poker rooms of Atlantic City. The initial few years for Phil were a teaching period and winning wasn’t a normal outcome at the time. He made his mark at the 2000 World Series of Poker where he made 2 final tables and came away with his 1st WSOP bracelet, in a two dollar, 500 Pot-Limit Omaha game. At the closing table he destroyed quite a few of the better known professionals which includes "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
Phil decided to take his game to the successive level and headed out west to Sin City. He continues to play in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the best players on the planet. Ivey credits his achievements to discipline and a continuing passion for poker. He says that he’s learning every single day and is very abashed about his accomplishments. Phil admits to making errors in each game of poker and always strives to improve.
Even though Ivey has won some large tournaments, he favors winning money games on a regular basis.