Phil Ivey has been branded as the best poker player on the planet by quite a few of the top pros. Phil Ivey was born in Riverside, CA and relocated to Jersey before reaching turning 1. His grandpa introduced him to one cent-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From then on on, Phil was addicted to poker and wished to learn whatever he possibly could about the game. He routinely told his elders that he was going to be a professional poker player. He did not let the negative comments from other people destroy his dream of becoming one of the strongest poker competitors on the planet.

He started competing seriously after acquiring a false ID with the name of Jerome. He sharpened his game at the poker rooms of Atlantic City. The first few years for Phil were a teaching period and coming away with a win wasn’t a normal thing at the time. He became known at the 2000 WSOP when he made two final tables and won his first WSOP bracelet, in a $2, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha event. At the closing table he defeated many of the well known professionals including "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.

He made a decision to take his skills to the next level and moved out west to Vegas. He continues to participate in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the greatest players in the world. Ivey credits his achievements to discipline and a continuing love for poker. Phil says that he’s learning every single day and is quite abashed about his success. He knows he makes mistakes every single session of poker and always strives to get better.

Even though Phil has won some large tournaments, he favors destroying money games on a regular basis.