Phil Ivey has been labeled as the number one poker contender in the world by most of the top professionals. Phil Ivey was born in Riverside, CA and moved to Jersey before his first birthday. His grandfather taught him one cent-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From then on on, he was addicted to poker and wanted to pickup everything he possibly could about the game. He routinely told his parents that he wanted to be a professional poker player. Phil didn’t let the adverse feedback from other people destroy his ambition of becoming one of the greatest poker players in the world.

Phil began playing intently after getting a fake ID with the name of Jerome. He honed his skills at the poker rooms in Atlantic City. The first number of years for Phil were a teaching opportunity and coming away with a win wasn’t a regular outcome at the time. He became known at the 2000 World Series of Poker where he achieved 2 final tables and won his 1st World Series of Poker bracelet, in a $2, 500 Pot-Limit Omaha event. At the last table he destroyed quite a few of the better known pros which includes "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.

Phil made a decision to take his skills to the successive level and moved out west to Vegas. Phil continues to participate in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the best players on the planet. Ivey credits his achievements to discipline and an undying love for the game of poker. He states that he’s picking up skills every single day and is very humble about his success. Phil knows he makes mistakes in each session of poker and constantly strives to get better.

Even though Ivey has come first in some big-time tournaments, he prefers winning money games on a regular basis.