Phil Ivey has been labeled as the best poker contender in the world by quite a few of the top-ranked professionals. Phil was born in Riverside, CA and moved to Jersey before reaching the age of one. His papa taught him one cent-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From then on on, he was addicted to poker and wanted to pickup everything he could about the game. He would tell his parents that he wanted to be a professional poker player. Phil didn’t let the adverse comments from others kill his ambition of becoming one of the strongest poker players on the planet.

He started playing intently after acquiring a fake ID with the name of Jerome. He sharpened his skills at the casinos of Atlantic City. The initial few years for Phil were a teaching opportunity and coming away with a win wasn’t a regular outcome at the time. Phil became known at the 2000 WSOP where he achieved 2 final tables and won his first WSOP bracelet, in a two dollar, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha match. At the closing table he defeated a number of the better known professionals including "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 Vegas. He continues to compete in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the best players in the world. Phil credits his success to hard work and a continuing love for the game of poker. Phil says that he’s picking up skills every single day and is quite humble about his accomplishments. Phil admits to making blunders in each game of poker and constantly aspires to improve.

Despite the fact that Phil has come first in some big tournaments, he favors destroying money games on a normal basis.