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NL Hold’em Poker- Who is Phil Ivey?
Phil Ivey has been referred to as the greatest poker player in the world by many of the top pros. Phil was born in Riverside, CA and relocated to Jersey before his first birthday. His papa introduced him to one cent-ante Five-Card Stud poker. From then on on, Phil was hooked on poker and wished to pickup anything he possibly could about the game. He routinely would tell his elders that he wanted to be a professional poker player. Phil did not allow the adverse feedback from other people destroy his goal of becoming one of the greatest poker competitors in the world.
Phil began playing seriously after acquiring a false ID with the name of Jerome. He sharpened his game 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 normal outcome at the time. He made his mark at the 2000 WSOP when he achieved 2 final tables and won his first World Series of Poker bracelet, in a two dollar, five hundred Pot-Limit Omaha match. At the last table he defeated many of the well known professionals including "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
He decided to take his game to the successive level and headed out west to Las Vegas. He continues to compete in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the greatest players in the world. Phil credits his achievements to discipline and a continuing love for poker. Phil says that he is picking up skills every day and is quite humble about his success. Phil knows he makes mistakes every single game of poker and constantly strives to improve.
Despite the fact that Phil has won some large tournaments, he prefers destroying cash games on a regular basis.