Phil Ivey has been branded as the number one poker player on the planet by most of the top professionals. Phil was born in Riverside, CA and moved to Jersey before his first birthday. His papa showed him to one cent-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From then on on, Phil was hooked on poker and wanted to learn whatever he could about the game. Phil would tell his grandparents that he was planning on being a professional poker player. He didn’t permit the adverse feedback from others annihilate his ambition of being one of the greatest poker competitors in the world.
He started competing seriously after getting a false ID by the name of Jerome. He practiced his abilities at the poker rooms in Atlantic City. The first few years for him were a teaching period and winning was not a regular outcome at the time. He became known at the 2000 WSOP where he achieved two final tables and came away with his first World Series of Poker bracelet, in a $2, 500 Pot-Limit Omaha game. At the last table he defeated quite a few of the better known pros including but not limited to "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
He decided to take his skills to the next level and headed out west to Vegas. He continues to participate in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the greatest players on the planet. Ivey credits his success to discipline and an undying love for the game of poker. Phil says that he is learning every day and is incredibly abashed about his achievements. He knows he makes errors every single session of poker and always strives to improve.
Despite the fact that Phil has come first in some big tournaments, he prefers winning cash games on a normal basis.