Born February 1, 1976, in Riverside, California, Ivey is arguably the best player in the game today, Ivey is also one of its most popular. He sharpened his poker skills and techniques playing against co-workers at a New Jersey telemarketing firm in the late ’90s before starting his career as a professional. Ivey, who lives in Las Vegas with his wife and is known as the “Tiger Woods of poker,” owns five WSOP bracelets, as well as a record-tying three in one year (2002). Also on his outstanding resume, he placed in the top 25 of the WSOP main event three years in a row from 2002 to 2005 and he has also made six World Poker Tour final tables.
Even though Ivey’s focus has changed from cash games to playing in tournaments, he made a big win in November 2005, when he won back-to-back titles five days apart. He earned $1,000,000 at the Monte Carlo Millions tournament November 20, and then won the $600,000 first-place prize at FullTiltPoker.com’s invitational tournament on November 25. Ivey has career tournament earnings exceeding $6 million.
Ivey made poker news for an accomplishment outside of a tournament setting when he won over $16 million over three days playing heads-up against Texas billionaire Andy Beal in February 2006. Ivey was playing as part of “The Corporation,” a group of pros who pooled together their funds and took turns playing Beal.
Ivey is also a big part of the online poker boom, serving as part of Full Tilt Poker’s design team.
