Name: Phil Ivey
Born: February 1, 1976
Birth Place: Riverside, California
Current Residence: Las Vegas, Nevada
Hailed as the top all-around professional poker player today, Phil Ivey may just be the typical kid on the block to those who are not aware of his credentials. He may appear to be someone who has just muffed a tennis volley and is at a loss as to how he could rectify a gross mistake. However, for those who have seen him in action at the poker table, the mere mention of his name can send shivers down their spines, especially for those who are on a faceoff with him for a big pot.
Phil Ivey has attained stellar status and is even considered by some people as the deified hero of tournament poker. He is the feared icon of cash games and he enjoys the reputation as one of the “immovable forces” when it comes to poker events.
Known as a steady player, this native of Riverside, California spent his early years in New Jersey. Ivey was introduced to the game of poker at a very young age. It was his grandfather who became his mentor as the young kid learned the ropes of the card game. His granddad taught Ivey the 5-card stud and tried to create a negative impression by hustling him. It didn’t succeed. The young Ivey continued to learn the “tricks” of the game and improve his craft. At age 16, Ivey was already a regular fixture of backroom cash games and when he reached 18, he got himself a 50-dollar ID and was already competing at various tables in casinos in Atlantic City. He had been spending most of his time making the rounds of casinos that he was given the nickname “No Home Jerome” by the other players and casino regulars.
However, his career in casino gaming didn’t have a rosy start and often at times Ivey was at the losing end and things weren’t going his way. Those were the most trying times of his budding career as a professional poker player. But with sheer determination and persistence, his efforts finally paid off and the tide finally turned in his favor.
His coming out performance was during the 2000 edition of the World Series of Poker, where he really made a big leap and made it big time, and from then on there was no looking back for Ivey. Ho took fifth spot in the $2000 Texas Hold’em. He won his first WSOP bracelet when he got himself all the way to the final round and beat the likes of David Ulliott, Amarillo Slim Preston and Phil Hellmuth in the $2,500 Pot-Limit Omaha. It was then that a legend was born. He later snatched his next 3 WSOP bracelets by winning 3 different poker events – the S.H.O.E., Stud Hi-Lo and Seven-Card Stud in 2002. It was also the year where he tied the record set by Ted Forrest and Phil Hellmuth for the most number of wins in a year.
By any standards, Ivey is one of the best players in the history of the game. His impeccable resume as a professional poker player includes a total of 5 WSOP bracelets, 6 final appearances at the World Poker Tour, and several successful runs in the Commerce Casino, the Bellagio and the Monte Carlo Millions.
