Phil Ivey has been labeled as the best poker competitor on the planet by quite a few of the top professionals. He was born in Riverside, CA and relocated to NJ before his first birthday. His grandpa taught him one cent-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From then on on, he was addicted to poker and wished to pickup whatever he could about poker. He would tell his parents that he wanted to be a professional poker player. He didn’t let the adverse feedback from other people destroy his goal of becoming one of the greatest poker players in the world.

Phil began competing seriously after acquiring a fake ID by the name of Jerome. He practiced his abilities at the poker rooms of Atlantic City. The beginning number of years for him were a teaching experience and coming away with a win wasn’t a normal thing at the time. Phil became known at the 2000 WSOP when he achieved 2 final tables and came away with his 1st WSOP bracelet, in a two dollar, 500 Pot-Limit Omaha event. At the last table he defeated quite a few of the better known pros including "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.

He decided 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 greatest players on the planet. Phil credits his success to hard work and a continuing passion for the game of poker. Phil states that he’s picking up skills every single day and is very humble about his achievements. Phil knows he makes blunders every single game of poker and always strives to get better.

Despite the fact that Phil has come first in some large tournaments, he prefers destroying cash games on a normal basis.