Phil Hellmuth

Name: Phil Hellmuth Jr.

DOB: 16th July 1964

Nationality: USA

Tournament winnings: $11m

Nickname: The Poker Brat

Greatest moment: Defeating Johnny Chan heads-up in the 1989 World Series Of Poker Main Event

Phil Hellmuth learned poker whilst at university and after three years of studying dropped out to pursue a career in the game. In 1989 he shot to fame, winning the World Series Of Poker Main Event by defeating back-to-back champion Johnny Chan. He also claimed the title of youngest ever champion which would stand until 2008.

Hellmuth is regarded by many (including himself) as the best tournament player ever with a record 11 bracelets and 77 WSOP cashes alongside over 50 other major tournament titles. One of his better years was in 1993 when he bagged three WSOP bracelets as well as a 2nd place finish. In 2007 The ‘Poker Brat’, as he is often known, was elected to the Poker Hall Of Fame.

Hellmuth is famous for setting himself goals and works hard to achieve them, one of them being to amass 24 bracelets in total! The Californian’s temper tantrums are as famous as his poker skills though and he has earned criticism over the years for overly berating players when luck doesn’t go his way.

Hellmuth’s time away from poker is spent mainly with his wife and two sons as well as his much self-publicised charity work and other entrepreneurial pursuits.
Love him or hate him, nobody can deny his brilliance and it would be a brave man that bet against Phil Hellmuth achieving his 12th bracelet sometime soon.