One of the Best: Phil Hellmuth
Poker Brat or not, Phil Hellmuth is one of the people who backs up his bad boy attitude and nasty talk with a solid poker game and set of World Series of Poker bracelets to prove it. Phil Hellmuth has the most World Series of Poker bracelets in the world and accordingly, is given the deepest respect at the table, no matter how insulting he can get.
Phil Hellmuth would largely come as a surprise, even to the most astute of poker players, able to defeat and fend off Johnny Chan in heads up play. Johnny Chan is no slouch, at one point touted as the best poker player in the world. At twenty four, Phil Hellmuth would take home, along with the win and a bracelet, the title of the youngest player ever to win at a World Series of Poker table. The record would stand for over a decade until 2008, when Peter Eastgate would accomplish it at twenty two.
Phil Hellmuth would earn the tenth of his eleven bracelets in 2006, fighting through and emerging victorious in a one thousand No Limit Texas Hold'em table. The Poker Brat would focus his efforts on what would become the new signature poker variant, Texas Hold'em. His eleventh bracelet would come into his possession with another win at another Texas Hold'em table a year later. His winning streak would stop in 2008 as he would only achieve a 45th place finish. Despite this minor setback, his winnings still easily hit over five million dollars.
The World Series of Poker is Phil Hellmuth's traditional fighting ground as the World Poker Tour has not been a fertile a battleground for him. The Poker Brat has been met with disappointment at the World Poker Tour as he is unable to dominate a single table. Phil Hellmuth has had trouble, winning less than one fifth at the World Poker Tour compared to his World Series of Poker performance. He is at least a prolific player, taking on many other tournaments in many places around the world.
Phil Hellmuth's title as the Poker Brat was largely earned by his abrasive attitude rather than his skill or age. He is heard to claim that he is bullet proof and invincible, claims that many would largely disagree with. Many commentators and players would swear that he is a great and fantastic poker player - the amount of impact that he claims to have on the game is another thing entirely.