Phil Ivey has been branded as the greatest poker player on the globe by many of the top-ranked professionals. Phil was born in Riverside, CA and moved to NJ before his first birthday. His grandfather taught him one cent-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From then on on, Phil was hooked on poker and wanted to pickup anything he could about the game. He routinely told his grandparents that he was going to be a professional poker player. Phil did not allow the negative comments from others kill his ambition of being one of the strongest poker players on the planet.
Phil began competing intently after getting a false ID by the name of Jerome. He sharpened his abilities at the casinos of Atlantic City. The beginning few years for Phil were a teaching experience and winning wasn’t a common thing at the time. Phil made his mark at the 2000 WSOP when he made two final tables and came away with his first WSOP bracelet, in a $2, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha event. At the last table he defeated quite a few of the well known pros including but not limited to "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
He decided to take his game to the successive level and moved out west to Vegas. Phil continues to compete in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the greatest players on the planet. Phil credits his success to discipline and an eternal love for poker. Phil says that he’s learning every day and is quite humble about his accomplishments. He knows he makes blunders in each game of poker and constantly aspires to improve.
Despite the fact that Phil has won some large tournaments, he prefers destroying cash games on a normal basis.
