Phil Ivey has been branded as the number one poker competitor on the planet by many of the top-ranked professionals. He was born in Riverside, CA and moved to Jersey before his first birthday. His grandpa taught him penny-ante 5-Card Stud poker. From then on on, Phil was hooked on poker and wished to learn every little thing he possibly could about poker. He would tell his grandparents that he was going to be a professional poker player. He did not allow the negative feedback from others kill his dream of becoming one of the strongest poker competitors on the planet.

He started competing seriously after acquiring a false ID by the name of Jerome. He practiced his game at the casinos in Atlantic City. The initial few years for him were a teaching opportunity and winning wasn’t a normal outcome at the time. He became known at the 2000 World Series of Poker when he achieved 2 final tables and won his 1st World Series of Poker bracelet, in a two dollar, 500 Pot-Limit Omaha event. At the final table he destroyed quite a few of the better known pros which includes "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.

Phil decided to take his game to the next level and headed out west to Sin City. He continues to play in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the best players on the planet. Ivey credits his success to hard work and a continuing passion for the game of poker. He states that he’s learning every single day and is quite abashed about his achievements. Phil knows he makes blunders in each session of poker and constantly aspires to get better.

Despite the fact that Ivey has come first in some big-time tournaments, he likes winning cash games on a regular basis.