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Phil Ivey is a legendary American poker player known for his sharp skills, calm presence, and incredible success at the tables. With 11 World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets and more than $52 million in live tournament winnings, he’s widely seen as one of the greatest players in the history of the game.
How It All Started
Born in Riverside, California in 1977 and raised in Roselle, New Jersey, Ivey got into poker as a teenager. He started playing seriously in Atlantic City while still underage, using a fake ID with the name “Jerome.” That early hustle earned him the nickname “No Home Jerome.”
By the time he was 21, he had already turned pro. His talent and discipline helped him stand out quickly in the poker world.
Climbing to the Top
Phil Ivey‘s big break came in 2000 when he won his first WSOP bracelet in a $2,500 Pot Limit Omaha event. He beat poker icon Amarillo Slim at the final table, showing the world he was a force to be reckoned with.
Since then, Ivey has collected 11 WSOP bracelets, putting him second on the all-time list behind Phil Hellmuth. He’s won in a wide range of poker styles, including Pot-Limit Omaha, Seven Card Stud, Razz, and 2-7 Triple Draw, proving just how versatile he is. His WSOP winnings now top $6.6 million.
On the World Poker Tour (WPT), Ivey has made it to 11 final tables and grabbed a title at the 2008 L.A. Poker Classic. All in all, his live tournament earnings have surpassed $52.2 million, making him one of the top earners in poker history.
In 2024, Ivey made a huge comeback by winning the $10,000 Limit 2-7 Triple Draw Championship, ending a ten-year stretch without a bracelet and reminding everyone he’s still a major threat, especially in non-Hold’em games.
A Master of High-Stakes Cash Games
While Ivey has crushed tournaments, he’s also famous for dominating high-stakes cash games. He was a regular in the Bellagio’s “Big Game” and has played in secretive, ultra-high-stakes games in places like Macau and Manila.
During the golden age of Full Tilt Poker, Ivey was one of the platform’s biggest names and a part-owner of the site. Playing under his real name, he took on the toughest opponents in games like No-Limit Hold’em, Pot-Limit Omaha, and mixed formats. He became known for massive wins and wild swings, and before the site shut down in 2011, he was one of its top online earners.
The Edge-Sorting Controversy
In 2012, Ivey found himself in the spotlight for a very different reason. He was involved in two major legal battles over a technique called edge sorting, which he used to gain an edge in baccarat games.
At Crockfords Casino in London, he won £7.7 million, and at Borgata in Atlantic City, he walked away with $9.6 million. Both casinos refused to pay, saying Ivey had broken the rules, even though he didn’t physically cheat.
Courts in both the UK and the U.S. eventually sided with the casinos, stating that while Ivey didn’t cheat in the traditional sense, he still violated fair play rules. The case sparked debate in the gambling world about what counts as fair advantage play.
A Lasting Legacy
Phil Ivey was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2017, just after turning 40. Many of his peers consider him the best all-around poker player the game has ever seen. His deep knowledge of strategy, ability to read opponents, and skill across multiple formats have influenced countless players around the world.
Whether it’s on TV, online, or in a high-stakes private room, Phil Ivey has earned his place as a true poker legend, and he’s not done yet.
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