Phil Ivey has been referred to as the greatest poker competitor on the globe by many of the top-ranked pros. He was born in Riverside, CA and moved to NJ before reaching the age of 1. His grandfather showed him to penny-ante 5-Card Stud poker. From then on on, he was addicted to poker and wanted to learn anything he possibly could about the game. He would tell his elders that he wanted to be a professional poker player. He did not permit the adverse feedback from others annihilate his goal of becoming one of the best poker competitors on the planet.
Phil began playing intently after acquiring a false ID with the name of Jerome. He practiced his skills at the poker rooms of Atlantic City. The initial few years for Phil were a learning period and winning wasn’t a common thing at the time. Phil became known at the 2000 WSOP when he made two final tables and won his first World Series of Poker bracelet, in a two dollar, 500 Pot-Limit Omaha game. At the final table he defeated quite a few of the better known professionals which includes "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 Vegas. He continues to participate in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the best players in the world. Phil credits his achievements to discipline and a continuing passion for poker. Phil states that he’s learning every single day and is very abashed about his achievements. He knows he makes errors in each session of poker and always aspires to improve.
Even though Phil has come first in some large tournaments, he likes destroying money games on a regular basis.