Phil Ivey has been referred to as the best poker player on the planet by most of the top pros. He was born in Riverside, CA and moved to Jersey before his first birthday. His grandfather showed him to penny-ante 5-Card Stud poker. From that point on, he was addicted to poker and wanted to pickup whatever he could about the game. Phil routinely told his parents that he was planning on being a professional poker player. Phil did not allow the detrimental comments from other people annihilate his ambition of being one of the best poker competitors on the planet.
Phil began competing intently after acquiring a false ID with the name of Jerome. He practiced his game at the casinos in Atlantic City. The beginning number of years for Phil were a learning opportunity and coming away with a win wasn’t a regular outcome at the time. Phil became known at the 2000 World Series of Poker when he made two final tables and won his 1st WSOP bracelet, in a two dollar, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha event. At the closing table he defeated a number of the well known professionals including "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 Las Vegas. He continues to compete in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the greatest players in the world. Phil credits his success to discipline and a continuing love for poker. He states that he is learning every day and is incredibly abashed about his accomplishments. He knows he makes errors every single game of poker and always aspires to get better.
Despite the fact that Ivey has won some large tournaments, he favors destroying money games on a normal basis.