who is phil ivey
Phil Ivey is one of the most legendary professional poker players in history, often hailed as the "Tiger Woods of Poker" for his unmatched skill and dominance across tournaments and high-stakes cash games.
Born Phillip Dennis Ivey Jr. on February 1, 1977, he started his career in the late 1990s, honing his craft in underground games before exploding onto the scene with his first World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet in 2000.
Quick Facts
- Total WSOP Bracelets : 10–11 (sources vary slightly as of 2025 data), including three in 2002 alone, tying a record at the time.
- World Poker Tour (WPT) Title : Won the 2008 L.A. Poker Classic for $1.6 million, his biggest tournament score then.
- Career Earnings : Over $40 million in live tournament winnings, plus massive high-stakes cash game action and online play under aliases like "No Home Jerome."
- Poker Hall of Fame : Inducted in 2017 for his all-around mastery.
- Playing Style : Fearless aggression, stone-cold bluffing, opponent-reading prowess, and an iconic unreadable stare that intimidates foes.
Rise to Legend Status
Ivey's breakthrough came early at the 2000 WSOP, where he won the $2,500 Pot- Limit Omaha event for $195,000—defeating Amarillo Slim heads-up in a historic upset. By 2002, he was stacking bracelets like poker chips, showcasing versatility in games from Hold'em to Omaha. Picture this: A young Ivey, barely 25, outlasting fields of grizzled pros, his calm demeanor masking a shark-like instinct that turned tables into treasure troves.
His 2005 Monte Carlo Millions heads-up against Paul Jackson? Arguably poker's most epic hand ever—endless raises on a paired board, Ivey holding trips to rake in $1.3 million. TV spots on High Stakes Poker and Poker After Dark cemented his GOAT status, where he'd spin wild tales mid-hand, all while crushing souls.
High-Stakes King & Controversies
Beyond tournaments, Ivey rules nosebleed cash games—think millions won in Bobby's Room at Bellagio or Triton Millions events. He's an online pioneer too, dominating as "PrivateMan" or "SuperUser" (before scandals).
Edge-sorting drama marked his later years: Ivey won £7.7 million at Crockfords and $9.6 million at Borgata using a technique exploiting card imperfections—casinos sued, courts mostly sided against him by 2020s, but fans see it as gamesmanship, not cheating. He keeps a low profile personally, married once (divorced), with kids, and now ambassadors for WPT Global.
Achievement| Details| Year(s)
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WSOP Bracelets| 10–11 total| 2000–2009+ 17
Biggest Cash| ~$2M+ (various high rollers)| Ongoing 5
TV Fame| HSP, PAD legend hands| 2000s 4
Net Worth Est.| $100M+ (poker + biz)| 2025 1
Latest Buzz (as of Feb 2026)
No massive 2025 headlines in recent scans, but Ivey's timeless—still grinding high rollers, with forum chatter on Reddit praising his enduring edge ("What's with Phil Ivey?" threads debate if he's unbeatable). PokerNews tracks him active; expect Triton or WSOP runs soon. Speculation? At 49, he's pivoting to mentoring/business, but the table calls.
TL;DR : Phil Ivey's the poker GOAT—bracelets, billions bluffed, unbreakable stare. From Jersey dealer to global icon.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.