Phil Ivey has been branded as the number one poker contender on the globe by most of the top-ranked pros. Phil Ivey was born in Riverside, CA and moved to NJ before his first birthday. His grandfather taught him penny-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From then on on, he was hooked on poker and wished to pickup anything he possibly could about poker. He would tell his grandparents that he wanted to be a professional poker player. Phil did not permit the detrimental comments from other people annihilate his goal of becoming one of the strongest poker competitors in the world.
Phil started playing intently after getting a fake ID with the name of Jerome. He honed his game at the poker rooms in Atlantic City. The beginning few years for Phil were a teaching opportunity and winning was not a common thing at the time. Phil became known at the 2000 WSOP when he achieved 2 final tables and won his first WSOP bracelet, in a two dollar, 500 Pot-Limit Omaha match. At the last table he defeated quite a few of the well known professionals including "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
Phil made a decision to take his skills to the next level and moved out west to Sin City. He continues to play in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the greatest players in the world. Phil credits his success to hard work and an immeasurable love for poker. Phil says that he’s picking up skills every single day and is incredibly abashed about his success. He admits to making blunders in each game of poker and constantly aspires to get better.
Despite the fact that Ivey has come first in some big-time tournaments, he favors destroying cash games on a normal basis.
