Phil Ivey has been referred to as the number one poker competitor on the globe by most of the top pros. He was born in Riverside, CA and moved to Jersey before reaching the age of 1. His papa taught him one cent-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From then on on, Phil was addicted to poker and wished to pickup everything he possibly could about the game. He would tell his grandparents that he wanted to be a professional poker player. He did not permit the negative feedback from others kill his ambition of becoming one of the best poker competitors on the planet.
Phil began playing seriously after getting a fake ID with the name of Jerome. He sharpened his techniques at the poker rooms in Atlantic City. The first number of years for him were a teaching experience and coming away with a win was not a common outcome at the time. Phil became known at the 2000 World Series of Poker where he made two final tables and won his first WSOP bracelet, in a $2, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha match. At the final table he defeated a number of the well known pros including "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
Phil decided to take his game to the next level and headed out west to Vegas. Phil continues to play in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the best players in the world. Ivey credits his success to discipline and an immeasurable passion for the game of poker. Phil states that he is learning every day and is incredibly abashed about his achievements. He admits to making errors every single session of poker and always strives to improve.
Despite the fact that Ivey has come first in some big-time tournaments, he prefers destroying money games on a regular basis.
