Poker Profiles: Phil Ivey

Phil Ivey is considered the best Poker player in the world. It is not surprising why. His full Poke credentials can tell exactly how he has been made into such a distinction. Five World Series of Poker bracelets and one World Poker Tour championship lead the pack of Phil's achievements.

Phil's five bracelets were won between the period of 2000 and 2005. Phil made an impressive kill at the Poker table when he ditched three bracelets in a single year by winning the $2,500 7 Card Stud Hi/Lo, the $2,000 S.H.O.E., and the $1,500 7 Card Stud. This achievement put him in a league with Phil Hellmuth and Ted Forrest. They are the ones who were able to achieve such a feat -- winning three events in a year -- previously.

The successes Phil made at the WSOP is not only winning five bracelets but also managing to be at as many final tables that he could handle. At the elusive Main Event, Phil has placed within the top 25 several times. Then again, emerging as the champion has not worked for him yet.

If Phil has been downright successful at the WSOP, it is no different from the WPT story. In fact, he is holding a record for emerging in eight WPT final tables. He did not win in many of them but getting to sit with the creams of the crop is obviously an enviable situation for a lot of other Poker players. Phil ended his quest for a WPT win when he snatched the LA Poker Classic championship away from Phil Hellmuth and Nam Le.

The other tournaments that Phil has been busy with include the European Poker Tour, the European Poker Masters, and the Monte Carlo Millions. Phil is also an active participant at the FullTiltPoker.com Poker room. He is also a regular at the prestigious Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, frequenting the $4,000-$8,000 mixed cash game.

Phil was born on February 1, 1976 in Riverside, California. He was a baby when the Ivey family moved to New Jersey and settled there for good. In late 1990s, he was introduced to the world of Poker. He never looked back since.

Poker aside, basketball is obviously another big passion for Phil. He is often found wearing jerseys of his favorite teams -- the LA Lakers and the Houston Rockets -- during Poker tournaments. There are also Golf and video games to keep Phil busy during no-Poker days.