Phil Ivey has been branded as the greatest poker player in the world by quite a few of the top-ranked professionals. Phil Ivey was born in Riverside, CA and relocated to New Jersey before his first birthday. His grandfather taught Phil penny-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From then on on, he was hooked on poker and wanted to pickup anything he could about the game. He routinely told his parents that he wanted to be a professional poker player. Phil didn’t let the detrimental feedback from others destroy his ambition of being one of the strongest poker players in the world.
Phil started playing intently after acquiring a false ID by the name of Jerome. He sharpened his abilities at the poker rooms of Atlantic City. The initial few years for Phil were a learning opportunity and coming away with a win was not a regular thing at the time. He became known at the 2000 World Series of Poker where he achieved two final tables and won his first World Series of Poker bracelet, in a two dollar, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha event. At the last table he destroyed many of the well known professionals 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 headed out west to Las Vegas. Phil continues to compete in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the best players in the world. Ivey credits his success to hard work and an undying passion for the game of poker. He says that he is learning every day and is quite humble about his achievements. Phil admits to making mistakes in each game of poker and constantly aspires to get better.
Although Phil has come first in some large tournaments, he likes destroying cash games on a regular basis.
