Phil Ivey has been branded as the greatest poker player on the planet by many of the top-ranked professionals. He was born in Riverside, CA and moved to New Jersey before his first birthday. His papa taught him penny-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From then on on, Phil was addicted to poker and wanted to discover every little thing he possibly could about the game. He routinely would tell his parents that he wanted to be a professional poker player. He didn’t permit the detrimental feedback from others kill his dream of becoming one of the greatest poker competitors on the planet.

Phil started competing intently after getting a false ID with the name of Jerome. He honed his techniques at the casinos in Atlantic City. The initial number of years for him were a learning experience and winning was not a common outcome at the time. Phil made his mark at the 2000 World Series of Poker where he achieved two final tables and came away with his first World Series of Poker bracelet, in a $2, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha game. At the last table he destroyed a number of the well known pros including "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.

He made a decision to take his skills to the successive level and moved out west to Vegas. He continues to play in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the greatest players on the planet. Phil credits his success to discipline and an eternal passion for the game of poker. He says that he’s learning every single day and is quite humble about his accomplishments. Phil knows he makes mistakes every single session of poker and always strives to get better.

Even though Ivey has come first in some big tournaments, he prefers destroying cash games on a normal basis.