Phil Ivey has been labeled as the best poker contender in the world by most of the top-ranked professionals. Phil Ivey was born in Riverside, CA and moved to Jersey before his first birthday. His grandfather taught him one cent-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From then on on, he was hooked on poker and wanted to pickup everything he could about the game. He routinely told his grandparents that he was planning on being a professional poker player. He did not permit the negative comments from other people annihilate his goal of becoming one of the best poker players in the world.
He started playing intently after getting a fake ID with the name of Jerome. He honed his skills at the poker rooms of Atlantic City. The first number of years for Phil were a learning period and coming away with a win wasn’t a normal outcome at the time. He made his mark at the 2000 WSOP when 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 final table he defeated quite a few 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 successive level and headed out west to Sin City. He continues to play in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the greatest players in the world. Ivey credits his success to discipline and an immeasurable love for poker. Phil states that he’s learning every day and is quite abashed about his accomplishments. He knows he makes blunders every single game of poker and constantly strives to improve.
Despite the fact that Ivey has won some big tournaments, he likes destroying cash games on a normal basis.