PHIL IVEY

Phil Ivey was born in 1976 in Riverside, CA, and grew up in New Jersey. He is a former salesman and he used to work in a telemarketing firm in New Jersey. Before he started with poker, his big passion was to play video games and he was well known in the video game communities. At the age of eighteen, Phil obtained a fake ID so that he could gamble in Atlantic City. Phil did not have instant success, and lost quite frequently; nevertheless, Phil moved to Atlantic City when he turned 20 in order to continue his gambling career and improve his skills. Back then Phil Ivey was known as Jerome Graham. Now, Jerome spent so much time in the casino that the regulars started to call him " No Home Jerome" most people know him now by his nickname "Tiger Woods of poker" (Ivey as saying he hates being called that, and he wants to be known as the Phil Ivey of poker). When Ivey turned 21 he threw away his fake ID, and walked into the casino showing his real ID. The casino staff, and the regular poker players said he never caused any trouble, so they let him in without a problem.
Phil put between 50 and 90 hours a week playing live games. And about 10hours online. For him it doesn't feel like a full-time job, because he like to play. he really enjoy it. Phil Ivey married his high school sweetheart. She helps him out with everything he can't do, which is everything. He can't do anything because he's playing poker all the time. Without Luciaetta, he wouldn't be nearly this successful. She takes care of him, and is definitely a help when he lose. She's there, and he can feel like everything will be OK. Phil currently resides outside of Las Vegas with his wife Luciaetta. Away from the scene of poker, Phil finds happiness in his marriage and his other interests. An avid basketball fan, Phil collects NBA jerseys, and follows with great interest his favourite team, the Los Angeles Lakers. Phil also enjoys playing recreational basketball, listening to music, video games and his latest pastime, Golf. He also devotes time to Full Tilt Poker, he's one of the designers at Full-Tilt Poker.

Funny Story
One thing that amuses Phil Ivey is how he will lose hundreds of thousands of dollars in one sessions and be very unhappy about it, yet when he comes home he has to console his wife when she loses a few bucks online playing the micro limit games.
The Poker Player
Phil Ivey is one of the greatest poker players today and he's only in his thirties. Ivey is a quiet player, who always seems completely focused and is known for his piercing stare. He always seems to play with no fear. Cash games are where Ivey is most at home. Ivey is a regular participant in the $4,000-8,000 mixed cash game at the Bellagio Hotel (often referred to as "the big game"), regularly sharing a table with Doyle Brunson, Chip Reese, Barry Greenstein, Gus Hansen, Todd Brunson, Samy Farha, Daniel Negreanu, David Benyamine, Eli Elezra, Johnny Chan, Minh Ly, Chau Giang, Jennifer Harman, and others. One of Phil's most elaborate wins would be when he beat out billionaire Andy Beal for 16.6 million dollars over the course of three days. It is rumored that after the loss, Andy Beal has given up playing poker.
Phil Ivey-Official Website
ANECDOTE
He came over to the house with his wife Luciaetta, and I needled him when I said, “See, this is how a successful poker player lives.” He said, “This is out of my league now, but some day I’ll own a big house like this, too.” Phil was especially interested in the sit-down Ms. Pac Man game that was in my gameroom. I mentioned that I bought it for my girlfriend because she was the best that I had ever seen at it. He said he was the best that anyone had ever seen.I got a call from someone at the airport who wanted me to pick them up. Phil and Luciaetta were having fun with my kids and I asked them if they minded watching my kids until I got back. Phil asked, “Can I play the Ms. Pac Man game?” I said, “Of course.” When I returned an hour later, Phil was still sitting playing the game. He smiled and said, “Well, your girlfriend doesn’t have the high score anymore.” Anecdote brought to you by Barry Greenstein