Phil Ivey
Phillip Dennis Ivey Jr., better known as Phil Ivey has been in the poker spotlight since his 2000 World Series of Poker tournament win. He was born on February 1, 1976 in California, but soon after his birth his family moved to New Jersey. His skills at playing poker developed, when he was working for the New Brunswick, New Jersey telemarketing firm, when he played against his co-workers. He has been dubbed the "Tiger Woods of Poker", seeing how successful he has become at this game. He has an impressive track record, in playing poker for a living, having helped with online poker websites, and being a philanthropist.
Phil Ivey's Poker Background
Ivey has had an impressive career so far, just at the World Series of Poker tournaments he has managed to win a total of eight bracelets. Starting it off in 2000 at the World Series of Poker where he won his first bracelet; at this even he won a total of $195,000. This was his first big win, but it was not his last. He had a great year in 2002, where he won another three bracelets at the WSOP in the Seven-card stud Hi/Lo, S.H.O.E., and the Seven-card stud events. During these events, his winnings came to over $350,000, along with the fame and glory that comes with winning so many bracelets in one year. He won again in 2005 playing Pot Limit Omaha, twice in 2009 in No-Limit 2-7 Draw Lowball and Omaha Hi/Lo / 7 Card Stud Hi/Lo. His last win at the WSOP was in 2010 where he played H.O.R.S.E. and made a total of $329,840.
Apart from playing in the WSOP, he also played in the World Poker Tour. In 2008 he managed to win after several losses, which funny enough he was holding the same hand for some of them. He was playing the L.A. Poker Classic tournament and he won a total of $1,596,100. He has also been a part of other well-known tournaments, such as the London All Star Challenge, and the Monte Carlo Millions. Phil Ivey does not only play in tournaments; he also participates in cash games. He often plays in Las Vegas, where he is currently living, and has played at casinos such as the Bellagio. He has also played online, where he was part of the original design team for Full Tilt Poker; however he left Full Tilt in 2011 after he claimed they breached his contract.
Phil Ivey's Accomplishments
Ivey has been winning tournaments left and right since 2000, in all kinds like the World Series of Poker, World Poker Tour, and even the European Poker Tour. In the WSOP he has won a total of eight bracelets, which is a very high number and very few have accomplished such a feat. During this time he has been to 22 final tables and has had 42 money finishes. He is ranked at the 7th highest ITM. During his time at the WPT he has won one title, 9 final tables, and 13 money finishes. At the newer European Poker Tour, he has only won once, and had 2 money finishes. Ivey has a total of $16,000,000 of total live tournament winnings as of 2012 and he is ranked second on the all-time money list.
Phil Ivey's accomplishments are not only reserved to playing and winning poker tournaments, he is also a great philanthropist. He has donated money to various charitable causes, including $50,000 to Empowered 2 Excel. In 2008 Ivey started a non-profit organization in order to continue the work of his grandfather, Leonard "Bud" Simmons; he called it the Budding Ivey Foundation. They hold charity poker events, where the money earned will go towards the foundation and its supported charities. Phil Ivey is both a great poker player, and human being.