Phil Hellmuth : Poker Player

Phil Hellmuth

Born in Madison, Wisconsin, in 1964, Phil Hellmuth is a 100% American born and bred poker player. He had a normal, average childhood, and first started playing poker in the university.

Most people know him because of his antics and all the talking he does at the poker table. He's not exactly the most modest of poker players out there, and most people resent his table attitude, however, everyone has to admit that the "poker brat's" talent is not something you'll run into on just any street corner.

During the years spent at the University of Wisconsin, he had already become something of a local celebrity, as he beat everyone in poker, including his professors. By the time he graduated, not only had he managed to pay off all his student loans, he'd also built up a $20,000 poker bankroll.

Driven on by his successes, he decided to take his game to a higher level, and see how he could cope with playing the big sharks in Vegas. As it usually happens with rookies, he ended up losing all his money, mainly on different casino games. By this time though, the genie was already out of the bottle. His talent obvious, Phil went back to school to build up an even bigger bankroll, which he successfully did.

Having learnt his lesson the first time he played in Vegas, he returned with a much bigger bankroll, which he managed to further increase.

Despite the fact that he didn't exactly find the going as smooth as he would've liked it, in 1988, Phil already gave a warning to the poker world, that he really meant business. He finished 33rd in the main event, (NL Texas Holdem). The following year, the young Hellmuth burst onto the poker scene with fireworks, red carpets and the whole nine yards.

In the final Heads-up of the final table of the main event, he defeated Johnny Chan, the reigning WSOP champion, and set a few records in the process.

At 24 years old, he became the youngest ever poker player to win a WSOP main event. New records were to come soon, in other WSOP events, and to this day, Phil Hellmuth is the player who holds the most WSOP bracelets (11).

His entry to the 2007 WSOP was also something that will probably be remembered for years to come. Ultimate Bet (Phil's sponsor) wanted him to arrive to the event in a race car, which he promptly crashed in his Hotel's parking lot. He eventually arrived in a limo, escorted by 11 Ultimate Bet girls (one for each bracelet that he's won).

Other than his WSOP antics, he also played in the televised series "Late Night Poker" where he was often accused of trying to stir controversy with his - sometimes quite out-of-line - behavior.

Other shows that he appeared on were "Poker After Dark" and "High Stakes Poker".