Phil Ivey has been referred to as the greatest poker contender in the world by quite a few of the top-ranked professionals. He was born in Riverside, CA and moved to Jersey before his first birthday. His grandfather taught Phil one cent-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From that point on, he was hooked on poker and wished to learn everything he 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 feedback from other people annihilate his dream of becoming one of the best poker competitors in the world.
Phil started playing seriously after getting a false ID by the name of Jerome. He practiced his game at the casinos in Atlantic City. The initial few years for him were a teaching experience and coming away with a win was not a common outcome at the time. Phil made his mark at the 2000 WSOP when he made 2 final tables and won his first World Series of Poker bracelet, in a $2, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha match. At the last table he defeated a number of the well known pros which includes "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
Phil decided to take his game to the successive level and headed out west to Vegas. He continues to play in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the best players on the planet. Ivey credits his success to discipline and an immeasurable love for poker. He says that he’s learning every single day and is very abashed about his achievements. He knows he makes blunders in each session of poker and constantly strives to improve.
Even though Ivey has come first in some big-time tournaments, he favors destroying cash games on a regular basis.