Phil Ivey has been referred to as the number one poker player on the planet by many of the top pros. He was born in Riverside, CA and moved to Jersey before his first birthday. His papa showed him to penny-ante 5-Card Stud poker. From then on on, he was hooked on poker and wished to discover every little thing he could about poker. He routinely told his grandparents that he was planning on being a professional poker player. He didn’t let the adverse comments from other people kill his goal of becoming one of the best poker competitors on the planet.
Phil started playing intently after getting a fake ID by the name of Jerome. He sharpened his techniques at the poker rooms in Atlantic City. The initial few years for him were a teaching period and winning wasn’t a regular thing at the time. Phil became known at the 2000 World Series of Poker when he made two final tables and came away with his first World Series of Poker bracelet, in a two dollar, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha match. At the last table he destroyed many of the well known pros including "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
He made a decision to take his game to the next level and moved out west to Vegas. Phil continues to compete in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the best players in the world. Ivey credits his success to hard work and an immeasurable passion for the game of poker. He says that he is learning every day and is quite abashed about his accomplishments. He knows he makes mistakes in each session of poker and constantly aspires to improve.
Despite the fact that Phil has come first in some large tournaments, he favors winning cash games on a normal basis.
