WSOP News

[jdroche]

I don't mean to scare anyone but if you're a fan of professional poker than you might want to keep an eye on the WSOP today. Last night ended Day 2 of the $1000 NL Holdem (Rebuy) event and there is a very familiar face with the chip lead heading into the final day/table.

Phil Hellmuth Jr. right now has a chip lead of $318,000 over 2nd place Daryn Firicano going into the Final 9. This is actually a pretty interesting story as Phil has played fantastic throughout the WSOP thus far with I believe a 2nd place finish and a 4th place finish - and the reason that it's news is that Phil is going for WSOP Braclet #10 which would tie him with Doyle Brunson and Johnny Chan for the most WSOP braclets of all time.

No matter what your stance on Phil is - he's been a really solid players for a long time and even though he sells himself so much now that his poker has basically been an afterthought winning a 10th braclet this year would be a huge accomplishment for him. Of course if he does end up closing the deal today I dont think anyone who is a fan of poker will EVER hear the end of it.

I'll keep ya updated.

[jdroche]

Well Phil Hellmuth Jr did it - he won his 10th WSOP braclet officially tying him with Johnny Chan and Doyle Brunson for winning the most braclets in WSOP history.

I wonder how people think of Phil. I mean he stands as the youngest player to have won the WSOP Main Event in 1989 and since than he has run off an amazing string of victorys while becoming one of the most wealthy poker professionals even without winning money in poker tournaments. The guy drinks nothing but Dom and I'm pretty sure if you looked at his cell phone he'd have more A list celebrites and sports superstars than poker professionals in there.

I really think that the transformation of Phil Hellmuth from poker pro - to worldwide poker brand has really been a strange metamorphasis. I mean I don't blame the guy - given the opportunity you gotta realize that there is much more money in PH the brand than Phil Hellmuth the poker player especially with the huge numbers of players in poker today.

I know alot of people get upset with Phil the mouth - but honestly that doesn't bother me in the least bit. I do the same things - you do the same things - it's just that we're not on TV when it happens. I mean on Poker Superstars III Phil was knocked out by Gus Hansen this past week when Gus went all in with 22 and Phil called with AJ suited - Gus caught another 2 and wound up winning the hand with a full house - this set Phil off, but it would've gotten every one of us upset as well because we all hate to lose - especially when we lose a race and especially to cards like that.

I think that to me the thing I dislike about Phil is how he handles away from the table. The man is a braggart - if you've seen his videos or read his books you know how self serving he is. However, he's got 10 braclets so he deserves to pat himself on the back somewhat.

After he won the other night he slapped hands with his supporters, he hugged his family and his young son Phil - and than he bought a boat load of Dom and drank up all night at the UltimateBet booth with everyone and anyone who would come bye. Love him or hate him, Phil Hellmuth knows what it means to be one of the best poker players maybe not today - but in history and I think this was a great moment for him.

I just wonder how everyone else feels about him.

-jd
http://thepcl.blogspot.com - tournament tonight