Phil Ivey has been branded as the best poker player on the globe by quite a few of the top-ranked professionals. Phil Ivey was born in Riverside, CA and moved to New Jersey before reaching the age of one. His papa showed him to penny-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From that point on, he was hooked on poker and wanted to pickup whatever he could about poker. He would tell his elders that he was planning on being a professional poker player. He didn’t let the negative comments from others annihilate his dream of becoming one of the greatest poker competitors in the world.
He started competing intently after getting a false ID by the name of Jerome. He practiced his abilities at the casinos in Atlantic City. The initial number of years for Phil were a learning period and coming away with a win wasn’t a common thing at the time. He made his mark at the 2000 WSOP where he made two final tables and won his 1st World Series of Poker bracelet, in a two dollar, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha event. At the closing table he destroyed many of the better known professionals including "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 Sin City. Phil continues to play in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the greatest players in the world. Phil credits his success to hard work and a continuing love for poker. He says that he is learning every day and is quite humble about his achievements. Phil admits to making mistakes in each session of poker and constantly strives to improve.
Despite the fact that Ivey has won some large tournaments, he prefers destroying cash games on a normal basis.