Phil Ivey

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

It looks like the face of a kid who just roofed his tennis ball - eyes darting left and right, like he's figuring out how to get it down without being sent to the office.

It also, however, happens to be one of the most frightening faces in poker. Particularly if you're on the other side of a big pot from it.

The face belongs to Phil Ivey: deified tournament hero, feared cash game icon and, quite possibly, the best... Read more >>

Trivia

Five WSOP bracelets before the age of 30
Regular winner in “The Big Game” at the Bellagio in Las Vegas
Tied with Phil Hellmuth and Ted Forrest for most WSOP bracelets in one year, winning three in 2002
In November 2005, won back-to-back tournaments at Monte Carlo Millions and Full Tilt Poker Invitational for $1.6 million total
Took Phil Hellmuth for $536,000 in a Chinese poker side game at the European Poker Tour Grand Final in 2007

Recent Tournament Placings

Tournament	Place	Winnings
2008 WSOP, Event 45, World Championship H.O.R.S.E.	12th	$159,840
2008 WSOP, Event 22, H.O.R.S.E.	24th	$7,998
2008 WSOP, Event 14, World Championship 7-Card Stud	9th	$37,130
WPT Season 6, World Poker Challenge	10th	$46,832
2008 Special, NBC Heads-Up Championship	3rd	$125,000
WPT Season 6, L.A. Poker Classic	1st	$1,596,100
2007 WSOP, Event 26, H.O.R.S.E.	4th	$65,424
2007 WSOP, Event 11, World Championship 7-Card Stud	2nd	$143,820
WPT Season 6, Mirage Poker Showdown	5th	$129,684
EPT Season 3, EPT3 Barcelona Open	2nd	€371,000
2006 WSOP, Event 20, H.O.R.S.E.	3rd	$617,760
2006 WSOP, Event 12, Omaha Hi-Lo Split	2nd	$219,208
2006 WSOP, Event 4, Limit Hold'em	21st	$9,476
2005 WSOP, Event 42, No-Limit Hold'em Championship	20th	$304,680
2005 WSOP, Event 5, $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo Split	54th	$2,410
2000 WSOP, $2,500 Pot-Limit Omaha	1st	$195,000
2002 WSOP, $2,500 Seven-Card Stud Hi-Lo	1st	$118,440
2002 WSOP, $1,500 Seven-Card Stud	1st	$132,000
2002 WSOP, $2,000 S.H.O.E.	1st	$107,540

View All >>

Player Statistics

Cashes	26
Total Winnings	$6,173,823
First Place Finishes	6
WSOP Bracelets	5

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

Phil Ivey's Score

8/10

Agressiveness 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.”

Analysis brought to you by Barry Greenstein