Phil Ivey has been branded as the greatest poker competitor on the globe by many of the top-ranked professionals. Phil Ivey was born in Riverside, CA and moved to New Jersey before reaching the age of one. His grandpa showed him to penny-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From then on on, Phil was addicted to poker and wanted to pickup anything he could about poker. Phil routinely told his grandparents that he was planning on being a professional poker player. Phil did not let the adverse feedback from other people destroy his dream of being one of the best poker competitors on the planet.
He started competing seriously after getting a fake ID with the name of Jerome. He sharpened his skills at the casinos of Atlantic City. The initial number of years for him were a teaching opportunity and coming away with a win wasn’t a common thing at the time. Phil became known at the 2000 WSOP when he made two final tables and came away with his 1st World Series of Poker bracelet, in a two dollar, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha game. At the closing table he defeated a number of the well known professionals which includes "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
Phil made a decision to take his skills 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 greatest players on the planet. Ivey credits his achievements to discipline and an undying passion for poker. Phil states that he’s picking up skills every day and is very humble about his success. Phil knows he makes mistakes every single game of poker and constantly strives to improve.
Even though Ivey has come first in some big-time tournaments, he favors destroying cash games on a regular basis.