Phil Ivey has been labeled as the best poker competitor on the globe by many of the top professionals. Phil Ivey was born in Riverside, CA and relocated to Jersey before reaching the age of one. His grandfather taught Phil penny-ante 5-Card Stud poker. From that point on, he was addicted to poker and wanted to pickup anything he could about the game. Phil would tell his grandparents that he was going to be a professional poker player. He didn’t permit the adverse feedback from other people destroy his goal of becoming one of the strongest poker competitors on the planet.

He started playing seriously after getting a fake ID with the name of Jerome. He sharpened his techniques at the poker rooms in Atlantic City. The first few years for Phil were a teaching period and winning was not a regular thing at the time. He became known at the 2000 WSOP when he achieved two final tables and won his first WSOP bracelet, in a two dollar, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha match. At the closing table he destroyed many of the well 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 Sin City. He continues to play in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the best players in the world. Ivey credits his success to dedication and an undying love for poker. Phil says that he’s learning every single day and is quite humble about his achievements. Phil knows he makes blunders in each game of poker and always aspires to get better.

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