Phil Ivey has been branded as the best poker player on the planet by most of the top-ranked professionals. Phil was born in Riverside, CA and relocated to NJ before his first birthday. His grandfather taught Phil one cent-ante 5-Card Stud poker. From then on on, Phil was addicted to poker and wanted to pickup whatever he could about poker. He routinely would tell his elders that he was going to be a professional poker player. He did not permit the negative comments from other people annihilate his dream of becoming one of the strongest poker competitors in the world.

Phil started competing seriously after getting a false ID by the name of Jerome. He honed his techniques at the poker rooms of Atlantic City. The first number of years for him were a teaching opportunity and coming away with a win was not a common thing at the time. Phil became known at the 2000 WSOP when he achieved two final tables and came away with his first WSOP bracelet, in a two dollar, 500 Pot-Limit Omaha event. At the last table he destroyed a number of the well known pros including but not limited to "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.

Phil decided to take his skills to the successive 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. Phil credits his success to hard work and an eternal passion for the game of poker. Phil states that he is picking up skills every day and is incredibly humble about his accomplishments. Phil admits to making errors in each session of poker and constantly aspires to get better.

Even though Phil has come first in some big tournaments, he favors winning money games on a normal basis.