Phil Ivey has been branded as the number one poker competitor on the planet by most of the top-ranked professionals. Phil was born in Riverside, CA and relocated to Jersey before reaching turning 1. His grandfather showed him to penny-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From that point on, Phil was addicted to poker and wished to discover everything he could about the game. He routinely told his grandparents that he was planning on being a professional poker player. Phil did not allow the detrimental feedback from others destroy his goal of being one of the greatest poker players in the world.
He began competing seriously after getting a fake ID with the name of Jerome. He practiced his skills at the casinos of Atlantic City. The first number of years for Phil were a learning opportunity and winning was not a common outcome at the time. Phil became known at the 2000 World Series of Poker when he achieved two final tables and won his 1st World Series of Poker bracelet, in a two dollar, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha event. At the last table he destroyed many of the well known professionals 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 successive level and moved out west to Sin City. Phil continues to participate in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the best players on the planet. Phil credits his achievements to hard work and a continuing passion for poker. He states that he is learning every single day and is quite humble about his accomplishments. Phil knows he makes errors every single session of poker and always aspires to get better.
Despite the fact that Phil has come first in some large tournaments, he favors destroying money games on a normal basis.