Phil Ivey

Name: Phil Ivey

DOB: 1st Feb 1976

Nationality: USA

Tournament winnings: $12.8m

Nickname: ‘Tiger Woods of Poker’ or ‘No Home Jerome’

Greatest moment: 3 WSOP bracelet haul in 2002

The 17-year-old Phil Ivey started playing as a teenager using fake ID in Atlantic City under the name Graham Jerome. “He was seen as a bit of a sucker playing very loose and getting his money in bad,” say Daniel Negreanu and Barry Greenstein. Little did they know that Ivey was sharpening his skills to become the best all-round player in the world. These formative years also saw the young Ivey perfect his infamous ‘1000 yard stare’ which has struck fear into countless amateurs and pros through the years.

Ivey soon improved his game and teamed up with Negreanu, John Juanda and Allen Cunningham to tour the circuit and share their considerable knowledge. He now has 7 WSOP bracelets, a WPT title and numerous other titles and final table finishes.

Early in 2010 Ivey overtook Negreanu to top the all time money list and it seems his game goes from strength to strength. Impressive as his tournament career is, most of his massive earnings come from playing cash games both online at Full Tilt and live at the fabled ‘Big Game’ at the Bellagio. He’s always been a fearless gambler and when not playing poker, can be found playing for high stakes on the golf course or prop betting for fortunes.