Phil Ivey has been labeled as the number one poker contender in the world by most of the top-ranked professionals. He was born in Riverside, CA and moved to Jersey before his first birthday. His grandpa taught Phil penny-ante 5-Card Stud poker. From then on on, he was addicted to poker and wanted to learn anything he possibly could about the game. He routinely told his elders that he wanted to be a professional poker player. He did not let the adverse comments from other people kill his ambition of becoming one of the greatest poker competitors on the planet.
Phil started competing seriously after getting a fake ID by the name of Jerome. He honed his techniques at the poker rooms in Atlantic City. The first number of years for Phil were a teaching experience and coming away with a win was not a common thing at the time. Phil made his mark at the 2000 WSOP when he made 2 final tables and came away with his first World Series of Poker bracelet, in a $2, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha game. At the closing table he defeated quite a few of the well known pros including but not limited to "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
Phil made a decision to take his skills to the successive level and moved out west to Las Vegas. Phil continues to participate in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the greatest players in the world. Ivey credits his success to dedication and a continuing love for poker. He states that he’s learning every day and is very abashed about his success. He knows he makes errors every single session of poker and constantly aspires to get better.
Although Ivey has come first in some large tournaments, he prefers destroying money games on a normal basis.
