WSOP Player Profile: Phil Hellmuth

Of all the World Series of Poker personalities out there there are few as well known as Phil Hellmuth. Born in Wisconsin with little direction other than a desire for greatness, Hellmuth discovered his love of poker while attending college at the University of Wisconsin. While Phil didn't play poker too good at first, he caught on fast, and by late 1988 went on a run that sent him on a direct course for the World Series of Poker (WSOP).

Hellmuth had his work cut out for him at the 1989 World Series. In addition to facing the largest WSOP poker game up to that time, he was attempting to put a damper on history. Johnny .The Orient Express. Chan, was attempting to win a third consecutive World Series of Poker main event bracelet. This feat would have lifted Chan forever atop the world among poker players, since it had never been done before and would in all likelihood never be done again. Standing in his way was he who would become "the poker brat". Phil Hellmuth. At the end of their heads-up match, Hellmuth raised with two black nines. Chan re-raised with A7 of spades. Hellmuth re-raised all-in and Chan called. The board helped neither player, and Hellmuth, at the age of 24, became the youngest World Series of Poker champion ever.

Like Amarillo Slim before him, Hellmuth parlayed his Texas Hold em victory into a miniature industry. He did talk shows and promotions, and found himself doing commentary on the few poker shows that would appear on television. Before long, few who were involved in the poker world had not heard of Phil Hellmuth.

Today, Hellmuth is probably most famous for his tantrums, mini-tirades he offers whenever he feels a weaker player (and to Phil, they're all weaker) has misplayed a hand and gotten lucky on him. He is famous for saying "I guess if there were no luck involved, I'd win every one," among other gems.

For all his bluster, Phil is a very talented player. His confrontation with Chan was a foreshadowing of a career long race with Chan for poker tournament supremacy, a race that now stands with both holding a record 10 World Series of Poker bracelets. Opting for a "tight is right" strategy, playing a conservative, survival oriented game, relying on his reading skills to trap overly aggressive opponents when they make a move at the wrong time, Hellmuth has had unprecedented success.

There are lots of great poker players out there with skills in different areas of the game. However many poker professionals agree that Phil really is the best no limit Texas hold'em tournament poker player in the world, and Phil Hellmuth certainly would not argue with that assertion.

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