Another year, another World Series of Poker bracelet for Phil Hellmuth.
Already the most decorated player in WSOP history, Hellmuth took his career tally to 14 bracelets – four clear of his nearest competitors Phil Ivey, Doyle Brunson and Johnny Chan – this week when he won the US$10,000 Razz Championship.
The “Poker Brat”, as he is known, might not be everyone’s cup of tea and has certainly attracted his fair share of criticism over the years for his habit of berating other players at the tables. Many laughed when he first stated his desire to win 20 bracelets – a figure he has since revised upwards to 24.
But Hellmuth keeps winning. Since bursting onto the scene with victory in the 1989 WSOP main event, he has exhibited incredible durability and is one of only three players to have won a bracelet in each of four different decades.
Phil Hellmuth won his first bracelet in the 1989 WSOP main event
His longest stretch without a bracelet was five years following his record 11th bracelet in 2007, but even then he wasn’t far from the action – finishing runner-up in three separate events at the 2011 WSOP.
He also put that disappointment behind him in emphatic fashion 12 months later by claiming his 12th and 13th bracelets in quick succession with the latter coming in the WSOP Europe main event. He is the only player to have won both the WSOP and WSOPE main events.
Hellmuth silenced his doubters some time ago but with each new bracelet comes further proof that he is the master of tournament poker. And it wouldn’t surprise anyone to see him add his 15th before the summer is out.
