Phil Ivey has been labeled as the number one poker competitor on the planet by many of the top-ranked pros. He was born in Riverside, CA and relocated to Jersey before reaching the age of one. His papa introduced him to one cent-ante 5-Card Stud poker. From that point on, Phil was addicted to poker and wished to pickup everything he could about poker. Phil would tell his elders that he was going to be a professional poker player. Phil didn’t let the negative feedback from others destroy his ambition of being one of the greatest poker competitors on the planet.

Phil started competing seriously after acquiring a false ID with the name of Jerome. He honed his techniques at the poker rooms in Atlantic City. The initial number of years for Phil were a teaching period and winning wasn’t a regular thing at the time. Phil made his mark at the 2000 World Series of Poker when he made two final tables and came away with his 1st WSOP bracelet, in a $2, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha match. At the last table he destroyed many of the well known pros including but not limited to "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.

Phil made a decision to take his skills to the successive level and headed out west to Las Vegas. Phil continues to compete in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the greatest players in the world. Phil credits his achievements to hard work and an eternal love for the game of poker. He states that he is learning every single day and is incredibly humble about his accomplishments. He knows he makes mistakes in each session of poker and always aspires to improve.

Despite the fact that Ivey has won some large tournaments, he prefers winning money games on a normal basis.