Phil Hellmuth is without a doubt the most decorated player in World Series of Poker history. With 13 gold bracelets, two WSOP Main Event titles (one in Europe), 100 cashes, and a membership in the Poker Hall of Fame, one cannot argue against his record.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of Hellmuth's 1989 WSOP Main Event victory. It’s also the summer of his 50th birthday. In a recent feature interview, PokerNews' Rich Ryan sat down with the man often referred to as the "Poker Brat" to discuss his win in 1989, the past 25 years of poker and his life, and much more.
Phil Hellmuth has become more active despite being notoriously tight in his approach when he is short stacked.
In one hand, John Andress raised to 40,000 from the button and then folded when Hellmuth three-bet all-in from the big blind.
Another saw Hellmuth check-raise a 42,000 continuation bet from Gordon Vayo to 100,000 on a flop and win the pot, but the third saw Hellmuth lose the chips he had previously won.
Hellmuth opened to 40,000 from the button and both Davidi Kitai (small blind) and Andress (big blind) called. The dealer spread the flop and all three players checked. Kitai led for 52,000 on the turn, Andress folded and Hellmuth snap-called.
The river was the and Kitai bet 40,000. Helmuth open-folded and went on a mini rant about how Kitai alwyas has something when Hellmuth has a big hand.
A short-stacked Bill Burford moved all in from the cutoff for roughly 240,000 and Tony Ruberto called him from the big blind.
Burford:
Ruberto:
Both players held an ace, which meant it came down to the kicker. Ruberto was best in that department, and he'd score the elimination because of it after the board ran out an uneventful .
Phil Hellmuth's quest to win his 14th WSOP bracelet continues as he has busted from Event #15.
Hellmuth opened to 80,000 from under the gun, leaving himself with less than 50,000 behind. Gordon Vayo was in the big blind and when it folded to him, he moved all-in. Hellmuth called and the cards flipped onto their backs.
Hellmuth:
Vayo:
The spectators on the rail leaned in to try get a better view of the board which run out to improve Vayo to a pair of sevens and to bust Hellmuth in eighth place.
"Eight flips in a row I've lost," said Hellmuth as he exited the tournament area.
The first five hands of the unofficial final table have passed without incident. Four hands have been settled preflop and the fifth ended with a continuation bet on the flop. Each of the seven players wants to be able to brag about reaching a WSOP final table so play is naturally going to be on the slow side until they get into the swing of things.
Heinz Kamutzki was the player with the button and when the action folded to him he set the price to play at 48,000. Next to act, in the small blind, was Tony Ruberto and he raised to 103,000. Davidi Kitai, who is looking to win his third bracelet today, cold four-bet to 228,000 and won the blinds and antes.
Action folded to Davidi Kitai on the button and he raised to 52,000, which Zachary Korik called from the big blind. The flop saw Korik check-call a bet of 66,000, and then he check-folded to a bet of 88,000 on the turn.