As this year’s World Series of Poker tournament commences on September 30, poker fans are anticipating which players will walk away with their first bracelet and which will add to their existing collection.
As one of the sport’s most prolific players, Phil Ivey, otherwise known as Phillip Dennis Ivey Jr., has achieved the greatest success at the World Series of Poker and, as a result, is regarded as one of the greatest poker players in the world. Continue reading to familiarise yourself with the career of poker star Phil Ivey.
A triumphant start
In the late 1990s, Phil Ivey challenged his co-workers at a New Brunswick, New Jersey, telemarketing firm to regular poker matches. As a result, he was able to sharpen his skills and make a name for himself in the amateur poker playing world from a relatively young age.
As a result of his tendency to spend a considerable amount of time, and money, at land-based casinos as a young adult and his stratospheric rise to fame, he amassed a number of nicknames including No Home Jerome and The Phenom. He was also awarded the nickname of the Tiger Woods of Poker as a result of winning three World Series of Poker bracelets in 2002 alone.
As a result, he currently ties with Phil Hellmuth Jr., Ted Forrest, and Puggy Pearson for the most World Series of Poker wins in a single 12-month period.
A thrilling live record
Aside from his sparkling rise to fame, Phil Ivey has also gone on to achieve a number of career highlights and records both in-person at global tournaments, such as the World Series of Poker, and online at a number of leading online casinos, such as GGPoker.com, in the years since as a founder of the Irish online casino Full Tilt Poker.
For example, in 2000, he was the first player to defeat one of poker’s most undefeated players in a World Series of Poker final table match against Amarillo Slim. This victory would trigger the award of the first of ten bracelets that he has won during the course of his professional career so far.
As if this wasn’t enough, however, he has also placed in the top 25 players in the Main event four times between 2002 and 2000 by placing 23rd in 2002, 10th in 2003, 20th in 2005, and 7th in 2009.
Other notable wins
As with any major professional poker player, Phil Ivey has amassed a number of notable wins throughout the course of his career so far. In 2005, for example, he won the $1,000,000 first place prize at the Monte Carlo Millions tournament as well as the $600,000 first place prize the following day at the Full Tilt Poker Invitational Live from Monte Carlo.
In 2006, for example, he participated in the London All Star Challenge of the first ever European Poker Masters and made it to the final table to finish in seventh place and walk away with a jackpot of £6,700. His opponents were Mike Matusow, Phil Hellmuth, Gus Hansen, Chris Ferguson, Dave Ulliott, and John Juanda.
As the World Series of Poker kicks off in September, fans are familiarising themselves with the highs and lows of their favourite players. With Phil Ivey retaining his title as one of the most prolific, and successful, players in the history of the sport, the story of his poker journey from start to finish must be seen to be believed. With a triumphant start, a thrilling live record, and a number of notable wins, he is more than deserving of yet another win.
