Phil Ivey has been referred to as the greatest poker contender on the planet by quite a few of the top-ranked professionals. Phil Ivey was born in Riverside, CA and moved to Jersey before his first birthday. His grandpa taught Phil one cent-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From that point on, Phil was hooked on poker and wished to discover whatever he could about poker. He routinely would tell his parents that he was planning on being a professional poker player. Phil didn’t allow the negative comments from others annihilate his goal of becoming one of the strongest poker competitors on the planet.
He started competing seriously after acquiring a false ID by the name of Jerome. He sharpened his abilities at the poker rooms in Atlantic City. The first few years for him were a teaching opportunity and winning wasn’t a regular thing at the time. He made his mark at the 2000 WSOP where he achieved 2 final tables and won his first WSOP bracelet, in a $2, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha event. At the last table he destroyed a number of the well known pros including but not limited to "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
He made a decision to take his game to the successive level and headed out west to Las Vegas. Phil continues to play in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the greatest players in the world. Ivey credits his success to hard work and an undying passion for poker. Phil states that he is picking up skills every day and is very abashed about his success. Phil knows he makes errors every single game of poker and constantly strives to improve.
Despite the fact that Ivey has come first in some big-time tournaments, he prefers destroying money games on a normal basis.