• Name: Phil Ivey
• Current Residence: Atlantic City, N.J.
• Birth Date: February 1, 1976
• Birth Place: Riverside, California, United States
• Poker Room: Full Tilt Poker

Player Analysis of Phil Ivey

Description

I think he is the best tournament player in the world. He’s the only player to graduate from the tournament field and be successful at the biggest game. Some of the top players are still skeptical, but they don’t seem to realize he is still an improving player and he has unmatched raw talent.

I often hear people saying Phil has been less successful than he has been in the past. 2004 was Phil’s best year in poker, but he hasn’t played many tournaments. And when he has played in a tournament event, he has played tired because of the cash game the night before. (I know because I have been in the games with him.)

He also has had to adopt a style geared to build up quickly or get knocked out quickly during the event, so that he won’t wear himself out for the cash game later that night. There were two big events in 2004 where there wasn’t a big cash game: the live Fox telecast in Turning Stone, N.Y., which Phil won, and the Monte Carlo Millions, in which he came in third.

Best Game

Seven-Card Stud

Weakness

Now focuses on cash games, not tournaments

• Aggressiveness 8
• Looseness 8
• Limit 8
• No-Limit 7
• Side Games 8
• Steam Control 7
• Against Strong Players 8
• Tournaments 9
• Short-Handed 9
• Against Weak Players 8

Amusing Anecdote

Phil had started playing in Los Angeles several years back and he asked me, “Where is the best place to live?” I told him, “I live in the best area, but it’s pretty pricey.” Phil always thinks big. He said, “I want to take a look at it.”

He came over to the house with his wife Luciaetta, and I needled him when I said, “See, this is how a successful poker player lives.” He said, “This is out of my league now, but some day I’ll own a big house like this, too.”

Phil was especially interested in the sit-down Ms. Pac Man game that was in my game room. I mentioned that I bought it for my girlfriend because she was the best that I had ever seen at it. He said he was the best that anyone had ever seen.

I got a call from someone at the airport who wanted me to pick them up. Phil and Luciaetta were having fun with my kids and I asked them if they minded watching my kids until I got back. Phil asked, “Can I play the Ms. Pac Man game?” I said, “Of course.”

When I returned an hour later, Phil was still sitting playing the game. He smiled and said, “Well, your girlfriend doesn’t have the high score anymore.”

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Phil Ivey Photos

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Read Review (Score: 8.65)