Phil Ivey has been referred to as the greatest poker contender in the world by many of the top-ranked professionals. He was born in Riverside, CA and moved to Jersey before his first birthday. His grandpa introduced him to one cent-ante 5-Card Stud poker. From then on on, he was hooked on poker and wanted to learn everything he possibly could about the game. Phil routinely told his elders that he was going to be a professional poker player. He didn’t allow the detrimental feedback from others annihilate his goal of becoming one of the strongest poker players in the world.
Phil started playing intently after acquiring a fake ID with the name of Jerome. He practiced his game at the casinos in Atlantic City. The initial number of years for him were a learning experience and coming away with a win was not a common thing at the time. He became known at the 2000 WSOP when he made 2 final tables and came away with his first WSOP bracelet, in a two dollar, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha event. 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.
He decided to take his game to the next level and headed out west to Las Vegas. He continues to participate in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the best players in the world. Ivey credits his success to hard work and an eternal love for poker. He states that he is picking up skills every single day and is very abashed about his success. He knows he makes mistakes every single session of poker and constantly aspires to get better.
Although Ivey has come first in some big-time tournaments, he prefers destroying cash games on a normal basis.