Phil Ivey has been labeled as the greatest poker contender in the world by many of the top professionals. He was born in Riverside, CA and moved to Jersey before reaching the age of 1. His grandpa taught Phil one cent-ante 5-Card Stud poker. From then on on, Phil was addicted to poker and wanted to pickup everything he could about poker. Phil would tell his parents that he wanted to be a professional poker player. Phil did not allow the negative comments from others annihilate his dream of being one of the strongest poker players on the planet.
He started playing intently after acquiring a false ID by the name of Jerome. He practiced his game at the poker rooms in Atlantic City. The initial number of years for Phil were a teaching period and coming away with a win wasn’t a regular thing at the time. He made his mark at the 2000 World Series of Poker where he achieved 2 final tables and won his first WSOP bracelet, in a two dollar, 500 Pot-Limit Omaha event. At the final table he defeated a number of the better known pros including but not limited to "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
Phil made a decision to take his game to the next level and moved out west to Las Vegas. He continues to compete in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the best players on the planet. Phil credits his success to hard work and an immeasurable love for the game of poker. He states that he is picking up skills every day and is incredibly abashed about his achievements. Phil knows he makes errors in each game of poker and always strives to improve.
Although Phil has won some big-time tournaments, he prefers destroying cash games on a normal basis.