Phil Ivey

Profile by Shirley Rosario

I first met Phil Ivey after his phenomenal success at the World Series of Poker in 2002. Phil took home three gold bracelets that year (tying the record held by Phil Hellmuth and Ted Forrest for most wins in a single year). I saw him from across the room at the Commerce Casino's California State Poker Championship and I decided I had to meet this poker sensation, so I approached him and introduced myself. I think that he was a little shocked (maybe disappointed) that some girl was introducing herself to him based on his great poker ability. Of course, since the poker boom, women (and men) approach him constantly.

For some time, when I ran into Phil on the tournament circuit, I tried to convince him that he should give me 7 Card Stud lessons. He was always very pleasant when talking with me, but he chuckled when I would bring up the lessons. At first I was convinced that I scared him, but the more that I have gotten to know him, the more I realize he has a reserved personality. I have seen more of his personality come out lately. I imagine that it is partly because he deals with fans on a daily basis. I am still puzzled that a world class poker player that is known for his aggressive style is as quiet and shy as he is.

Phil resides in Las Vegas with his wife and plays in the biggest cash games there. He also travels to Los Angeles sometimes for big cash games there. Some opponents that he has played against are Doyle Brunson, Barry Greenstein, Chip Reese, Larry Flynt, and the billionaire Andy Beal. Phil spends some of his time away from the poker table at the golf course. I have heard rumors that when he first started playing golf he was hopeless (although if you saw him on ESPN shooting golf with Howard Lederer and Robert Williamson, it doesn't seem to be a rumor), but that hasn't stopped him from betting thousands of dollars while on the green.

Phil is known to some as the Tiger Woods of poker, but I have to disagree. He is the Phil Ivey of poker, totally in a class by himself. He is definitely my favorite tournament poker player and I love his aggressive style. When I watch him play in tournaments, I am in awe by how focused he is. He seems to be paying attention to everything, absorbing every bit of information that the other players give him. One example of this was on the "Earphones Please" Poker After Dark television show. He was seated with five other players with four of them being borderline obnoxious or well over the border. A normal player would have lost their cool. I would have run out of there screaming, but Phil sat there calm and collected and ended up winning the one-table tournament.

Another great strength he has as a player, is not realizing how good he actually is. I have heard him comment on some of his games and he really believes that he needs a lot of work on some of them. I think that is what makes him such a great player. He is constantly working to make his game better.

Phil's World Poker Tour credits in season one include a third place finish at the Foxwoods event, second at Tunica, and third at the World Poker Tour Final. In season three, he finished 6th at Borgata, 3rd at Reno Hilton, and third again at the World Poker Tour Championship. He has several World Series of Poker bracelets. In 2000, he won the Pot Limit event, in 2002 he won the S.H.O.E, 7-Card Stud Hi-Lo Split, and the $1500 7 Card stud event and in 2005 he won the Pot Limit Omaha event. Other notable finishes are his first place finishes at the 2004 Championship at Turning Stone and 2005 Monte Carlo Millions.

When I talk about Phil, people sense how enamored I am with him. One person said, "you have a crush on him, don't you?" To which I responded, "I have a crush on his poker mind." You can play with Phil at his own table at Full Tilt Poker.

		Dave "Deilfish" Ulliott
		Profile by Shirley Rosario

David "The Devilfish" Ulliott is one of poker's leading personalities. I have seen him on a few occasions, but talked with him only occasionally. The impression I got from him as far as personality is that he is arrogant. I have always been drawn to people with this trait and he is no different. When I was introduced to David, I started talking to him about my site and the first thing that came out of his mouth was, "You want to do a profile on me, right?" I replied: "Of course I do, that would be great."

Devilfish spent his early years involved in criminal activity. At one time he was involved in a safe-cracking team and he was eventually caught and spent time in prison. Once he was released, he continued on the wrong path and it eventually led him to prison again. When he met his second wife, he went straight. His biography, Swimming with the Devilfish goes into more detail about his early years.

David makes his home in the UK where he is  a jeweler. I would imagine the rings he is known for wearing are his own creations. He is also known for sitting at the poker table behind a pair of shades. He has made a name for himself as a poker player, whether he is playing live action or tournament play. David started to play poker at the age of sixteen. He played cash games before seriously turning his attention to tournaments. His first tournament was in January 1997 where he beat another well known opponent, Men "The Master" Nguyen. This tournament was also where he received his memorable nickname "The Devilfish".

The World Poker Tour has made celebrities out of many of the players, especially the winners. David is no different with his win at Tunica. I heard a story about him that kind of made me laugh. At one time, he was a spokesperson for UltimateBet and under an agreement with them, he had to play a certain amount of hours on their site under his real name. He was sitting on the table and of course all of the players were chatting and asking him questions. Some were telling him how they were huge fans of his. One (female I assume) proceeded to tell him she was playing on her computer naked.

I asked one of my friends who happens to be close with David if he thought David was arrogant. He stated that he does not think a person is arrogant if they know they are a good player. Only if they talk down to another person trying to belittle them. "David should have a high opinion of his game, because he is a very, very good player." He also told me David likes to do Elvis impersonations. I have heard that it is not uncommon for him to pick up a microphone at a tournament and do a little.

People that are new to poker probably only know that David won the World Poker Tour at Tunica. However, he has many final table appearances and first place finishes, including the first season of the Late Night Poker television show in the UK. He won the 1997 Pot Limit Holdem at the World Series of Poker, Pot Limit Omaha High at the 2002 World Poker Open and the 2007 No Limit Holdem event at the Gold Strike World Poker Open.

Chris "Jesus" Ferguson is one of the most recognizable faces in poker. He has a unique look with his long hair, beard, sunglasses, and hat. He obviously got his nickname, "Jesus", because of these looks. I had always heard that Chris was one of the nicest and most popular players on the circuit, but I had never played or talked with Chris. I also heard that he likes it when people introduce themselves to him because he is usually not one to approach people, so I figured the next time I saw him I would make sure and say "Hi". I finally got the chance to meet him at the 2005 World Series of Poker and I have to admit that the rumors were true. He is one of the nicest people I have met in this business.

Chris lives in Pacific Palisades, California. He does not travel the circuit as much as he used to. He attends the larger, bigger buy-in events and focuses on other interests including day trading and swing dancing. I think the two are an ironic combination: the individual competition of poker with huge amounts of concentration, and swing dancing in which you must rely on a partner and just let go of your inhibitions.

Chris won the prestigious Championship No Limit Holdem main event at the 2000 World Series of Poker. He beat another top competitor, TJ Cloutier. The final hand of the series was one that will be remembered. TJ held AQ to Ferguson's A9. The flop came 2K4 with a King on the turn. If the board paired, the pot would have been split and Ferguson would have been saved, but if the 9 came the tournament would be all over. The 9 came and Ferguson was World Champion. The A9 combination was pivotal to Chris' win twice during the tournament. The night before he won, Annie Duke lost with the A9 to Chris giving him the chips that he needed to continue in the competition.

In one interview, Chris stated that his favorite place to play was at the final table. That is the mark of a true champion. I think the combination of the desire to make it to the final table and his mathematical skills is what makes him the great player that he is today. He has earned himself five World Series of Poker titles, two of them in 2003. His titles are 2000 Seven Card Stud, 2001 Omaha High-Low, 2003 Mixed Games, 2003 Omaha High-Low, and the main event in 2000.

Some of his other accomplishments include first place finishes in No Limit Holdem at the WSOP Tournament Circuit Las Vegas, the WSOP Tournament Circuit Rincon, and the championship event at the Winnin' O' the Green in 2004. He had two seconds and one first place in the first four years of NBC's National Heads-Up Poker Championship.

You can play with Chris at his own table at online card room Full Tilt Poker.