Phil Ivey has been labeled as the greatest poker player on the globe by many of the top professionals. Phil Ivey was born in Riverside, CA and relocated to Jersey before his first birthday. His papa taught Phil penny-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From then on on, he was hooked on poker and wished to pickup everything he could about the game. He would tell his elders that he wanted to be a professional poker player. Phil didn’t let the detrimental comments from other people destroy his dream of being one of the greatest poker competitors in the world.

Phil began playing seriously after acquiring a fake ID by the name of Jerome. He honed his techniques at the poker rooms in Atlantic City. The first number of years for him were a learning opportunity and coming away with a win was not a regular outcome at the time. He became known at the 2000 World Series of Poker where he made 2 final tables and won his first World Series of Poker bracelet, in a $2, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha event. At the closing table he defeated a number of the better known professionals including "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.

He decided to take his game to the successive level and headed out west to Vegas. Phil continues to compete in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the best players in the world. Ivey credits his success to discipline and a continuing love for the game of poker. Phil states that he is learning every single day and is very humble about his success. Phil knows he makes mistakes every single game of poker and constantly strives to get better.

Even though Ivey has come first in some big-time tournaments, he favors destroying money games on a normal basis.