Phil Ivey has been branded as the number one poker contender in the world by quite a few of the top-ranked professionals. He was born in Riverside, CA and moved to New Jersey before his first birthday. His grandfather taught him penny-ante 5-Card Stud poker. From then on on, Phil was hooked on poker and wanted to pickup anything he could about the game. Phil routinely told his grandparents that he was going to be a professional poker player. He did not allow the adverse feedback from other people destroy his goal of becoming one of the best poker competitors in the world.
He started playing intently after getting a false ID with the name of Jerome. He practiced his game at the casinos in Atlantic City. The beginning few years for him were a teaching opportunity and coming away with a win wasn’t a common thing at the time. Phil made his mark at the 2000 World Series of Poker where he made 2 final tables and came away with his first WSOP bracelet, in a $2, 500 Pot-Limit Omaha game. At the last table he defeated a number of the well known pros which includes "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
Phil made a decision to take his game to the successive level and moved out west to Sin City. Phil continues to compete in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the best players on the planet. Ivey credits his success to hard work and an immeasurable love for the game of poker. He states that he is picking up skills every single day and is incredibly humble about his achievements. Phil knows he makes blunders in each session of poker and constantly aspires to improve.
Even though Phil has come first in some big tournaments, he prefers destroying money games on a regular basis.