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 One of the
most recognizable
faces in poker,
even to those
who are not
immersed in
the poker
world, is
Phil
Hellmuth.
While Hellmuth,
also referred
to as “The
Poker Brat” likes
to think he
is the best
all around
poker player
alive, the
fact is debatable.
One thing
many people
will agree
on is that
Phil Hellmuth
is one of
the best,
if not the
best tournament
No Limit Hold
Em player
alive. Something
else that
can not be
disputed is
Phil's highly
animated personality
and brash
attitude at
the table.
Phil was
born and raised
in Madison,
Wisconsin,
where he attended
the University
of Wisconsin
for a short
time. It was
there that
Phil began
to learn to
play poker,
playing in
$20 tournaments
and low buy
in fraternity
games on campus.
Phil took
to the game
quickly and
began to realize
his calling.
Phil began
moving up
in limits
locally, to
the point
of building
enough of
a bankroll
to make a
trip to Las
Vegas to play
with the big
boys. The
story that
most tell
is that Hellmuth
came back
to Madison
with no money
the first
several times.
In 1989,
Phil had rebuilt
his bankroll
to the point
where he was
able to take
a chance at
playing on
the worlds
foremost poker
stage, the
main event
at the World
Series of
Poker. That
year, Phil
won the main
event, becoming,
at the time,
the youngest
player to
win the main
event. Phil
was only 24
years old,
and was able
to not only
end Johnny
Chan's chance
at a three-peat
as world champion,
he also began
his own phenomenal
WSOP career.
Phil is the
current holder
for most cashes
in the WSOP
overall, with
64. He is
also in a
ties for most
appearances
at a final
table with
39. Phil also
holds the
most prestigious
title in tournament
poker, having
a record 11
bracelets,
a goal he
accomplished
at the 2008
WSOP. One
thing that
displays Phil's
prowess is
the 11 bracelets
from 39 final
tables. He
is better
than 25% at
taking down
the tournament
once he hits
the final
table. With
over $5 million
in WSOP winnings,
Hellmuth is
7th all time
on the WSOP
money list
Along with
his WSOP fame,
Phil has experienced
great success
on the WPT.
Hellmuth has
ten cashes,
and several
final table
showings.
He has four
3rd place
finishes,
and this year
was able to
score 6th
at the WPT's
L.A. Poker
Classic. Along
with those,
Phil also
garnered a
win at the
National Heads
Up Championship
in 2006.
Hellmuth
does a fantastic
job of marketing
himself and
making his
name be seen.
He has authored
four different
books, as
well as an
autobiography.
Phil holds
his own line
of clothing,
and has a
marketing
deal with
Oakley sunglasses.
In 2008, in
coordination
with the WSOP,
Phil Hellmuth's
face was featured
on 12 million
cans of Milwaukee’s
Best beer.
With his
crazy outbursts,
and berating
of fellow
players at
the table,
Phill Hellmuth
is nothing
short of entertaining.
Phil enjoys
life with
his wife,
Katherine,
who can be
often seen
rooting him
on in the
gallery of
the tournaments
he plays in.
(Remember
the “I
can dodge
bullets, baby” comment?)
Phil and Katherine
have two sons,
and live in
the Palo Alto,
California
area. He
has a huge
ego, but only
because of
his success,
which he has
undoubtedly
worked for.
Look for Phil
Hellmuth to
be entertaining
for years
to come.
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