No-Limit Texas Hold’em Poker- Who is Phil Ivey?
by Bo on Wednesday, February 4th, 2026
Phil Ivey has been branded as the number one poker player on the planet by many of the top professionals. He was born in Riverside, CA and moved to Jersey before reaching turning one. His grandfather taught him one cent-ante 5-Card Stud poker. From that point on, Phil was hooked on poker and wished to discover anything he could about the game. He routinely would tell his grandparents that he was planning on being a professional poker player. Phil did not allow the detrimental comments from others destroy his ambition of being one of the strongest poker competitors on the planet.
He began competing seriously after acquiring a fake ID with the name of Jerome. He honed his skills at the casinos in Atlantic City. The first number of years for Phil were a learning opportunity and coming away with a win was not a regular outcome at the time. Phil became known at the 2000 WSOP where he made 2 final tables and came away with his 1st WSOP bracelet, in a two dollar, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha match. 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.
He made a decision to take his game to the next level and moved out west to Vegas. He continues to compete in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the best players on the planet. Phil credits his achievements to discipline and an immeasurable passion for the game of poker. Phil says that he’s picking up skills every day and is quite abashed about his accomplishments. He knows he makes errors in each session of poker and always strives to get better.
Although Phil has come first in some big tournaments, he likes winning money games on a normal basis.
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