NL Texas Hold’em Poker- Who is Phil Ivey?
Phil Ivey has been branded as the best poker competitor in the world by most of the top professionals. He was born in Riverside, CA and relocated to NJ before his first birthday. His grandfather taught him one cent-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From then on on, he was addicted to poker and wished to pickup whatever he possibly could about the game. He would tell his grandparents that he wanted to be a professional poker player. Phil didn’t allow the adverse comments from other people destroy his goal of becoming one of the strongest poker players in the world.
Phil started playing intently after getting a fake ID by the name of Jerome. He sharpened his abilities at the poker rooms in Atlantic City. The beginning few years for Phil were a learning period and coming away with a win wasn’t a common thing at the time. He became known at the 2000 World Series of Poker where he achieved two final tables and came away with his first WSOP bracelet, in a $2, 500 Pot-Limit Omaha event. At the final table he defeated quite a few of the better known professionals which includes "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
Phil made a decision to take his game to the next level and headed out west to Sin City. He continues to compete in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the greatest players in the world. Phil credits his success to discipline and an eternal passion for poker. Phil says that he is picking up skills every day and is very abashed about his success. He admits to making mistakes in each session of poker and always strives to improve.
Although Phil has come first in some big tournaments, he favors winning money games on a normal basis.