Player Spotlight: Phil Hellmuth
Written by on May 25, 2010Phil Hellmuth is one of the most respected poker players in the game today. There are many reasons for that, but the main one is that he backs up his skill with a record 11 WSOP bracelets. However, his attitude and temperamental outcries at unlikely hands have also earned him the nickname “the poker brat.” Despite any jabs at his attitude, he is widely seen as a truly fantastic player.
Until 2008, Hellmuth had the title of youngest World Series of Poker Main Event winner in history, a record that he obtained at age 24 in 1989. This is just one of the many WSOP victories that he’s achieved. His 11 bracelets are just a part of what’s earned him his massive bankroll. Over the course of 77 different money wins in WSOP tournaments, Hellmuth has developed a lingering reputation. His total winnings fall just short of $11 million as of the beginning of 2010. Various World Poker Tour and Late Night Poker wins have increased his bankroll even further. He’s known as an impressive table player on top of having a reputation for tournament victories.
What about that nickname? Is it truly earned? Well, unlike many other players who successfully keep their cool during a bad beat, Hellmuth is known for insulting and berating other players when he feels they made stupid calls, especially when those stupid calls proceed to beat his authentically good hand. He has been issued warnings from poker floor supervisors on more than one occasion. Still, the jabs at his attitude have done nothing to mar his world class reputation as a player. The only move that may have damaged this sterling player’s reputation was an incident in which he accepted a pot that was incorrectly awarded to him, and responded to the other player’s comment on the error with a rush to continue on to the next hand.
