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Phil Ivey

Written by: Paul Seaton
Revered as the "Tiger Woods of Poker," Phil Ivey's enigmatic style and unparalleled skill set him apart as one of the most feared and respected players in the game's history.
Phil Ivey

“You get your chips your way, I’ll get my chips mine.”

Accomplishments:

  • 10-time WSOP gold bracelet winner
  • Won over $40 million in live ranking tournaments
  • 10th on the All-Time Money List
  • Nicknamed ‘No Home Jerome’ for playing underage
  • Won over $1m in tournament scores 11 times

Biography 

Philip Dennis Ivey Jr. is a poker enigma. Often recognised as the dollar-for-dollar best poker player who has ever played the game, Ivey, once nicknamed ‘No Home Jerome’ for playing with counterfeit ID in Atlantic City, New Jersey, is one of the all-time greats. Winning 10 World Series of Poker bracelets, Ivey is second only to Phil Hellmuth on the all-time list of WSOP event winners.

A young Phil Ivey quickly became known not only as a tournament legend, but a cash game crusher too. No-one except Ivey knows how many millions he has won at the poker tables of Macau, but it runs into the tens of millions. Called ‘the Phenom’ in his early days, Phil Ivey also became known as ‘The Tiger Woods of Poker’ when, during the height of his Full tilt Poker fame, he seemed virtually unbeatable other than by luck.

Ivey’s uncompromisingly aggressive style almost contradicts his elusive, non-confrontational style away from the felt. Rarely giving interviews, Ivey’s enigmatic reputation has only grown over the years with the regularity that he evades true analysis of his life. A master of the game at the felt, a unique character away from it, Ivey’s later years have been full of examples of a quick wit and dry, sardonic attitude to the game he has dominated.

In recent years, Phil Ivey has attracted some attention for a controversial case in London where he was accused of ‘edge sorting’ at baccarat where he won $10 million only to have his winning withheld by the casino. The attending court case that followed was perhaps Ivey’s only public misstep in a career that has been largely played out off the felt, with the golden boy of the first ‘poker boom’ previously in the limelight only when he’s been at the felt.

To date, most players and fans agree that Phil Ivey is the benchmark for skill in poker encapsulated in one player.  Plenty consider Ivey the ‘G.O.A.T.’ – the Greatest of All-Time. What about you?

Phil Ivey’s WSOP Bracelet Wins

 

YearEventPlacePrize
2000$2,500 Pot Limit Omaha1st$195,000
2002$1,500 7 Card Stud1st$132,000
2002$2,500 7 Card Stud Hi-Lo1st$118,440
2002$2,000 Limit S.H.O.E.1st$107,540
2005$5,000 Pot Limit Omaha1st$635,603
2009$2,500 Omaha/Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo1st$220,538
2009$2,500 No Limit Deuce to Seven Draw1st$96,367
2010$3,000 H.O.R.S.E.1st$329,840
2013A$2,200 Mixed Event1stA$51,840
2014$1,500 8-Game Mix1st$166,986

Phil Ivey in Action

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Credentials

  • Live Earnings: $40.7 million
  • Ranking Event Wins: 39
  • Biggest Win: $3.58m (Aussie Millions $250k Challenge /2014)
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Phil Ivey – Between the Lines

A notoriously private individual, check out Phil Ivey’s social accounts if you’re seeking rare glimpses into the life of this enigmatic poker legend.

Paul seaton

Paul seaton

Author

Paul Seaton, a poker luminary with over a decade of experience, has reported live from iconic poker events, including the World Series of Poker, European Poker Tour, and World Poker Tour. He’s not just a spectator; he’s been the Editor of BLUFF Europe Magazine and Head of Media for partypoker.

Paul’s poker insights have graced publications like PokerNews, 888poker, and PokerStake, where he’s interviewed poker legends such as Daniel Negreanu, Erik Seidel, Phil Hellmuth, and The Hendon Mob’s, entire lineup. His exceptional work even earned him a Global Poker Award nomination for Best Written Content. In the poker world, Paul Seaton’s expertise is a force to be reckoned with, captivating enthusiasts worldwide.

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