Phil Ivey has been labeled as the number one poker competitor in the world by quite a few of the top-ranked professionals. Phil 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 addicted to poker and wished to pickup everything he possibly could about the game. Phil routinely told his grandparents that he was going to be a professional poker player. Phil didn’t allow the negative feedback from others annihilate his goal of being one of the strongest poker competitors on the planet.
He began competing seriously after acquiring a false ID by the name of Jerome. He practiced his abilities at the poker rooms of Atlantic City. The initial number of years for him were a teaching period and coming away with a win wasn’t a normal thing at the time. Phil made his mark at the 2000 WSOP where he achieved 2 final tables and came away with his first WSOP bracelet, in a two dollar, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha game. At the final table he defeated many of the better known professionals including "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
He decided to take his game to the next level and moved out west to Sin City. He continues to compete in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the best players on the planet. Ivey credits his achievements to dedication and an immeasurable love for poker. Phil states that he is picking up skills every day and is quite abashed about his accomplishments. He admits to making mistakes every single game of poker and constantly aspires to get better.
Although Ivey has come first in some big tournaments, he likes winning cash games on a regular basis.