In the realm of poker players, followers and enthusiasts, Phil Ivey is a household name. His prolific accomplishments have earned him well over $10 million in live tournaments cashes, including his most recent accomplishment; a 7th place finish at the 2009 WSOP final table for $1.4 million.

Phil Ivey isn't just known for his incredible tournament skills, but his cash table efficiency. Ivey has been wiping the rails with opponents since he was about 16, now bringing in multi-million figures each year at cash games. He plays online poker exclusively at one of the world's top poker sites, Full Tilt Poker, as a member of Team Full Tilt, where last year's nosebleed action earned him over $7 million on the virtual felt.

Phil Ivey's Early Days

Born in riverside, California on February 1, 1976, Phil Ivey's family moved to New Jersey when he was just 3 months old. Before he was even old enough to walk into a casino, he obtained a fake ID - earning himself the lasting nickname "No Home Jerome" - to play poker in Atlantic City. Employed at a telemarketing firm in New Brunswick, New Jersey in the 1990's, Ivey tweaked his skills amongst coworkers.

Phil Ivey's Poker Career

Ivey has played in countless majors around the world, winning 18 live tournaments and cashing in another 83. He's racked up an impressive 7 WSOP Bracelets over the years since 2000. His live poker tournament play has earned him a total of $11,010,347, finally breeching the $10 million mark with his 7th place November Nine finish in the 2009 World Series of Poker.

Phil Ivey Live Tournament Stats

Cashes: 101 First Place Finishes: 18 Career Earnings: $11,010,347 Largest Cash: $1,596,100 (LA Poker Classic WPT 6 Championship, 1st place) WSOP Bracelets: 7 WPT Titles: 1

Phil Ivey's WSOP Bracelets

Phil Ivey earned his first World Series of Poker bracelet in 2000, the same year he earned his first recorded live tournament cash. He has since brought in another 6 WSOP bracelets, including his final two in the 2009 WSOP. Each of Phil's WSOP Bracelet wins is listed below.

  1. May 6, 2000: WSOP Event #14 Pot Limit Omaha - $195,000
  2. April 23, 2002: WSOP Event #5 Limit 7 Card Stud Hi/Lo - $132,000
  3. May 3, 2002: WSOP Event #16 Limit 7 Card Stud Hi/Lo - $118,440
  4. May 10, 2002: WSOP Event #23 Limit S.H.O.E. - $107,540
  5. June 26, 2005: WSOP Event #27 Pot Limit Omaha - $630,685
  6. June 2, 2009: WSOP Event #9 No Limit 2-7 Lowball - $96,367
  7. June 11, 2009: WSOP Event #25 Omaha & 7 Card Stud Hi/Lo - $220,538

All told, Phil Ivey has cashed in 39 WSOP events over his career, worth just under $5 million ($4,834,584) of his total live tournament earnings.

Phil Ivey's Most Notable Notations

Wealthy mathematician Andy Beal has gained quite some notice for his occasional challenging of professional poker players. More often than not, Beal wipes the tables with his opponents due to his mathematically logical approach to the game. However, in February of 2006, Beal offered such a challenge to Phil Ivey. After three days heads-up competition, Beal called it quits after losing $16.6 million to the young pro.

Phil Ivey Now

Phil Ivey, now known by his common nickname "The tiger Woods of Poker", until recently, resided in Las Vegas, Nevada with his wife, and high school sweetheart, Lucietta. The couple recently divorced however, and it's not known at this time who got the house.

His biggest ambition in life is to take down the most coveted of all championship titles, the WSOP Main Event Championship Bracelet - a feat he nearly accomplished in the 2009 WSOP, falling just short in 7th place from a field of 6,494.

Ivey is a member of Team Full Tilt, playing online poker exclusively at Full Tilt Poker, the world's second largest poker resource. He's often found playing the highest stakes games of $500/$1,000 to $2000/$4000. When he's not on the felt, virtual or otherwise, Phil Ivey enjoys golfing, video games, prop betting and watching his favorite basketball teams, the Las Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets.