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.

Phil Ivey Image

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. When Ivey turned legal at 21, he announced his real name to the casino staff, continued playing poker and made tremendous progress. In June, 2000 Phil takes his education and experience to the World Series of Poker. He placed fifth in the $2,000 No-Limit Hold’em event and went on to win his first WSOP bracelet at 23 years of age, beating Phil Hellmuth, The Devilfish and Amarillo Slim Preston in a $2,500 Pot Limit Omaha event. It was here the legend of Phil Ivey was born.

In 2002, he married his high school sweetheart, Luciaetta. In addition, he proceeds to win another three WSOP bracelets in the Seven-Card Stud, Stud Hi-Lo and S.H.O.E. events, tying Hellmuth and Ted Forrest for most wins in a single year. At only 25, he is considered one of the top players in the game by his peers.

In 2005, he won his fifth WSOP bracelet in a Pot-Limit Omaha event. Then, in November, he cashes in a cool $1 million in Monte Carlo defeating 112 players in the exclusive Monte Carlo Millions tournament then goes on to cash in an additional $600,000 in the Full Tilt Poker Invitational Live from Monaco in the same 24 hour period. Not a bad payday for 24 hours of work.

In 2006, Texas billionaire Andy Beal challenged a group of the world’s best poker players, collectively known as “The Corporation” to a series of mega-high stakes heads up matches. Ivey takes Beal for about $2 million the first night, $4.6 million the second night, and reportedly up $16.6 million on Beal by the end of the third night. Later that year, Phil placed 2nd in the WSOP Omaha Hi-Lo event and third in the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event, taking home over $800,000.

In 2008, Ivey brings home his first WPT title and over $1 million in winnings, taking down both Phil Hellmuth and Nam Le at the final table. Later that year, Ivey took down a fellow Team Full Tilt member, John Juanda, in an online game winning a pot close to $700K. At the time, this was one of the largest pots in online poker history.

2009 brought Ivey his sixth WSOP bracelet in a No-Limit Deuce-to-Seven Lowball event and his seventh WSOP bracelet in a Omaha/Seven-Card Stud Hi/Lo tournament. He made it to the final table and played a good game but didn’t bring home the title this year. On a personal note, 2009 also brought the end to his seven year marriage to Luciaetta. The divorce was granted at the end of December.

Anyone who knows anything about the poker world, knows of Phil Ivey. We can see from his history that he’s an awesome poker player. But could he be the best poker player ever? It appears he’s well on his way. We’ll just have to watch, wait and see.