Phil Ivey has been referred to as the best poker player in the world by many of the top-ranked professionals. He was born in Riverside, CA and moved to NJ before his first birthday. His papa taught him one cent-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From then on on, he was addicted to poker and wished to pickup everything he could about poker. Phil routinely told his elders that he was going to be a professional poker player. Phil didn’t let the adverse comments from other people kill his dream of becoming one of the best poker competitors in the world.

He began competing intently after getting a fake ID by the name of Jerome. He sharpened his game at the poker rooms in Atlantic City. The initial number of years for Phil were a learning period and winning was not a common outcome at the time. Phil made his mark at the 2000 World Series of Poker where he made two final tables and won his first World Series of Poker bracelet, in a two dollar, 500 Pot-Limit Omaha match. At the final table he defeated many of the better known pros which includes "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.

He made a decision to take his game to the successive level and moved out west to Sin City. He continues to play in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the greatest players in the world. Ivey credits his achievements to discipline and an eternal passion for poker. Phil says that he’s picking up skills every single day and is quite humble about his success. He admits to making mistakes every single session of poker and constantly aspires to improve.

Even though Phil has won some big-time tournaments, he prefers destroying money games on a regular basis.