Phil Ivey has been labeled as the number one poker contender on the planet by many of the top-ranked professionals. Phil Ivey was born in Riverside, CA and moved to Jersey before reaching the age of 1. His grandpa taught Phil one cent-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From then on on, Phil was hooked on poker and wanted to learn everything he could about the game. Phil would tell his parents that he wanted to be a professional poker player. He did not let the detrimental feedback from others annihilate his ambition of becoming one of the greatest poker competitors on the planet.
Phil started playing intently after acquiring a fake ID by the name of Jerome. He sharpened his game at the poker rooms in Atlantic City. The initial number of years for him were a learning opportunity and winning was not a common thing at the time. Phil made his mark at the 2000 WSOP where he achieved two final tables and came away with his 1st WSOP bracelet, in a two dollar, 500 Pot-Limit Omaha game. At the closing table he defeated many of the well known professionals including but not limited to "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
Phil made a decision to take his game to the successive level and headed out west to Vegas. Phil continues to participate in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the greatest players in the world. Ivey credits his achievements to hard work and an eternal love for poker. He states that he’s learning every single day and is very abashed about his achievements. Phil admits to making mistakes every single game of poker and always strives to improve.
Despite the fact that Ivey has won some big-time tournaments, he prefers winning cash games on a regular basis.