Phil Ivey

Phil Ivey is considered by his peers to be amongst the best in the world if mot the best poker player in the world.

Ivey grew up in New Jersey and crafted his skills amongst his co-workers at a New Brunswick, New Jersey telemarketing firm in the late 1990's - Phil was a master salesman as well as a talented card player. His nickname, "No Home Jerome", stems from the ID card he secured to practice in Atlantic City in his teenage years.

He is well-versed in various games of poker and consistently wins in the biggest cash games. Ivey now focuses more on playing cash games than in tournaments, but his tournament accomplishments include winning three titles at the 2002 World Series of Poker, tying the record for most bracelets won in one year. Ivey also has bracelets in Pot Limit Omaha from 2000 and 2005. In addition to his five World Series Bracelets, Ivey has shown great success in the World Series of Poker Main Event. He placed in the top 25 three times from 2002 to 2005, with the fields growing exponentially each year. Phil finished 23rd in 2002, 10th in 2003, and 20th in 2005.

Ivey has also reached numerous final tables on the World Poker Tour (WPT), but has yet to win an event.

On 20 November 2005, Ivey won the $1,000,000 first prize at the Monte Carlo Millions tournament. Four days later on 25 November 2005, Ivey won the $600,000 first prize at the FullTiltPoker.com's invitational tournament broadcast live on Fox Sports Net from Monte Carlo. The other six men consisted of (in reverse finishing order) Mike "The Mouth" Matusow, Phil Hellmuth, Gus Hansen, Chris "Jesus" Ferguson, Dave"Devilfish" Ulliott, and John Juanda.

Before becoming a poker pro, Ivey was renowned in video game circles and in particular Pac Man.

Ivey is a Los Angeles Lakers fan and can often be seen wearing basketball jerseys.

Phil Ivey Is also a regular at the Bellagio playing the "Big Game". In Febuary 2006, Ivey played heads up Limit Texas Hold'em against Texas Billionaire Andy Beal. With the stakes at a staggering $50,000/$100,000, Phil won over $16 million over a period of three days of poker playing. After losing Andy Beal stated and not for the first time that he was quitting poker for good. Phil Ivey did not play with just his own money but play's with the "coporation" money. A group of pro poker players who pool their money to play against the billionaire.

Ivey is part of the design team for Full Tilt Poker, an online poker website that opened in July 2004 and has been heavily promoted. Poker In The Park