Okay, I've been curious for a while, I read a few articles/posts all over mentioning that before dominating poker Phil Ivey used to be a professional video game player. While I've read interviews a few years ago with guys in the US saying they can make a million US$ from sponsorship and whatever, is it true that this what Ivey did?

It might explain why he didn't have to earn himself up to the big levels so much, especially when he seemed to appear on the scene before internet poker really took off, appearing on the scene when he was around 23-24.

Anyone know anything in this regard? TUP?

Molina

All I know is he started playing at casino's when he was 17.

FlopmyFlush said 17, my understanding is 16 but the idea is the same. He started playing underage using a relatives ID winning his first NL tourney at 16. By the time he was old enough legally to play - he was concerend that he was too well known to take back his real name ... hence the couple of years delay - then it seemed to those who didn't already know him that Phil Ivey just burst upon the scene. Well he didn't but his name did.

TUP

Wow, 16? That's even crazier. I didn't know about the delay of a couple years. I remember reading a story about him, he played at the casino every day until he turned 21. They all knew who he was there. Anyway, one day he walked in, and one of the people there said, "Hey greg (or whatever)", and he was just like, "I'm not greg, my name is phil ivey. Nice to meet you."

Was funnier when someone else wrote it.