Phil Ivey has been labeled as the best poker competitor on the globe by many of the top professionals. Phil was born in Riverside, CA and relocated to Jersey before his first birthday. His papa showed him to one cent-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From then on on, Phil was hooked on poker and wanted to learn everything he possibly could about the game. He routinely told his elders that he wanted to be a professional poker player. He didn’t let the negative comments from other people kill his ambition of becoming one of the strongest poker players on the planet.

Phil began playing intently after getting a false ID with the name of Jerome. He honed his techniques at the poker rooms of Atlantic City. The initial few years for Phil were a teaching opportunity and coming away with a win was not a regular outcome at the time. Phil made his mark at the 2000 WSOP when he made 2 final tables and won his 1st WSOP bracelet, in a two dollar, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha match. At the last table he defeated many of the better known professionals including "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.

He made a decision to take his game to the next level and moved out west to Vegas. He continues to play in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the greatest players in the world. Phil credits his success to discipline and a continuing love for the game of poker. Phil says that he is learning every single day and is quite humble about his accomplishments. He knows he makes errors in each game of poker and always strives to improve.

Despite the fact that Ivey has won some big tournaments, he likes destroying money games on a normal basis.