Phil Ivey has been labeled as the best poker competitor on the planet by most of the top professionals. Phil was born in Riverside, CA and moved to New Jersey before his first birthday. His papa showed him to one cent-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From then on on, Phil was addicted to poker and wanted to discover every little thing he possibly could about the game. He would tell his grandparents that he was going to be a professional poker player. He didn’t permit the negative comments from others annihilate his ambition of becoming one of the strongest poker players on the planet.
Phil began competing intently after getting a fake ID by the name of Jerome. He practiced his game at the poker rooms of Atlantic City. The initial few years for Phil were a learning experience and winning was not a normal outcome at the time. Phil made his mark at the 2000 WSOP when he achieved 2 final tables and came away with his first WSOP bracelet, in a $2, 500 Pot-Limit Omaha game. At the closing table he destroyed a number of the better known professionals including "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
Phil made a decision to take his skills to the successive level and headed out west to Sin City. He continues to compete in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the best players on the planet. Phil credits his achievements to discipline and an eternal love for the game of poker. He says that he’s learning every day and is quite abashed about his accomplishments. He knows he makes blunders in each session of poker and constantly aspires to get better.
Although Phil has won some big tournaments, he favors winning cash games on a regular basis.