Phil Ivey is one of the most talented poker players in the world, the best of the new generation. Often referred to as the “Tiger Woods” of poker, though he’s often responded that he is not worthy of the comparison (he may have a different response these days). Ivey is an American professional poker player who has seven World Series of Poker bracelets and one World Poker Tour title under his belt. He is currently listed as first in the world among all-time money winners in tournament poker.

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Ivey was born February 1, 1976 in Riverside, California. A few months later his family moved to Roselle, New Jersey which is on the east coast just a short distance away from Atlantic City. Ivey wasn’t like most kids growing up dreaming to be a professional athlete or movie star. All he ever wanted to be was a professional poker player. Mission accomplished. His grandfather supported his dreams and taught him how to play Five-Card Stud. Dealing from the bottom of the deck to teach little Phil the potential dangers of gambling, the lesson is meant to be warning. As you probably already guessed, the lesson didn’t work. As Phil was growing up, he watched numerous home games watching and learning. Watching and learning was not his thing, Phil’s an action man and by the age of 16 he was playing backroom games for money. At 18, he pays $50 for a phony ID from a co-worker at his telemarketing job named Jerome Graham. Phil then takes his new ID and heads to the live tables in Atlantic City, A LOT. He spent so much time there, his fellow players nicknamed him “No Home Jerome” (name coming from his fake ID) and stuck with him. Ivey wasn’t always the talent he is today. In the beginning, he lost most of the time but there’s something to be said for the poker education which accompanied these losses (and a win every now and then).

It only took a few years for the tables to turn in his favor, and boy did they turn.

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