Phil Ivey has been branded as the greatest poker player in the world by most of the top professionals. He was born in Riverside, CA and relocated to Jersey before his first birthday. His grandfather taught him penny-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From then on on, Phil was addicted to poker and wanted to discover anything he possibly could about the game. He routinely told his grandparents that he was going to be a professional poker player. He did not let the detrimental feedback from others destroy his ambition of becoming one of the best poker players on the planet.
Phil began competing intently after acquiring a fake ID by the name of Jerome. He practiced his abilities at the poker rooms in Atlantic City. The initial number of years for him were a teaching experience and coming away with a win was not a common outcome at the time. Phil made his mark at the 2000 World Series of Poker where he achieved 2 final tables and won his first WSOP bracelet, in a $2, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha game. At the final table he defeated a number of the well known pros 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 moved out west to Vegas. Phil continues to play in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the greatest players in the world. Phil credits his achievements to hard work and an immeasurable love for the game of poker. Phil states that he’s learning every day and is very abashed about his achievements. Phil admits to making errors in each game of poker and always aspires to improve.
Even though Phil has won some big-time tournaments, he favors destroying cash games on a regular basis.
