Phil Ivey has been branded as the number one poker competitor on the globe by quite a few of the top pros. He was born in Riverside, CA and moved to New Jersey before his first birthday. His papa taught Phil penny-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From then on on, he was addicted to poker and wanted to pickup anything he possibly could about the game. Phil routinely would tell his elders that he was planning on being a professional poker player. He did not allow the negative feedback from others destroy his ambition of being one of the strongest poker players in the world.
Phil started playing intently after getting a false ID with the name of Jerome. He sharpened his game at the casinos of Atlantic City. The first number of years for Phil were a teaching opportunity and coming away with a win was not a regular thing at the time. Phil made his mark at the 2000 WSOP when he achieved two final tables and won his 1st World Series of Poker bracelet, in a $2, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha event. At the closing table he defeated quite a few of the better known pros including "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
He made a decision to take his game to the next level and headed out west to Vegas. Phil continues to compete in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the best players in the world. Phil credits his success to hard work and a continuing love for poker. He states that he is picking up skills every single day and is very abashed about his accomplishments. He knows he makes errors in each session of poker and always strives to improve.
Even though Phil has come first in some big tournaments, he prefers winning money games on a regular basis.