Phil Ivey
Phillip D. Ivey is a professional poker player, who is known as Phil, the Tiger Woods of poker, and also as No Home Jerome. He was born in Riverside, California on the first of February in 1976. He resides in Las Vegas and divorced his wife of seven years, Luciaetta in 2009. He has impressive performances in poker, winning the World Series of Poker Bracelets eight times and the WPT (World Poker Tour) once. He is considered the best all around player.
He is an avid fan of basketball. Teams he likes include the Houston Rockets, the Buffalo Bills, and the Los Angeles Lakers. He also enjoys golf, prop betting, and video games. He is very involved in charitable work, making several donations and by founding the Budding Ivey Foundation.
Since he was a kid, he showed interest in playing poker. His grandfather taught him many tricks, and he would enjoy watching adult games at home and the neighborhood. Despite his grandfather's efforts on teaching him a lesson on the dangers of gambling, he continued to become more interested in poker. As a child, he would tell people that he was going to become a professional gambler one day. When Phil Ivey grew up, he was able to take advantage to the proximity to Atlantic City Casinos in New Jersey - his family moved to Roselle, New Jersey when he was three months old. From now on, he dedicates much time to learn the game, play at the casinos, and hone his poker skills. It is said that at 18, he was playing in the casinos using a fake id. He was determined to become the best poker player in the world.
In June 2000, at 23 years old, he plays at the World Series of Poker -14 event, and he plays against big names such as Amarillo Slim, Markus Golser, David Devilfish, The Poker Brat, and others. He ends up dethroning Amarillo Slim, who has never lost a WSOP event at the final table. That day, he won his first bracelet. At 25, he had already won his second and third bracelets, and was headed to be the best. By 2009, his career earnings have surpassed the amount of twelve million plus. He is the best player live or online, and many have learned to fear his poker skills.
Today, he plays most at the largest tournaments, high stakes and cash, but he has been known to play at smaller low stake tournaments, for the love of the game and to give anyone the chance to beat him. He can be seen at the Bellagio in Las Vegas at the high limit area, and have impressed many great players. He shares the table with Jennifer Harman, Doyle Brunson, and Chip Reese. Consistently, he wins at the $4-8 thousand mixed game. It is said that Eric Seidel has described him using the words "searing intelligence."
He also sponsored FullTilt Poker and plays there as well. He is described as unpredictable in the games, and known for having the most difficult poker face to read. He is considered an intuitive true cash game player, and feared by many poker players.