Phil Hellmuth

Phil “Poker Brat” Hellmuth

Phil Hellmuth is, first and foremost, a man who knows what he wants and how to get it. The man who started his poker career under the less critical poker handle of “The Madison Kid” would become the youngest player ever to win the World Series of Poker main event in 1989 at age 24. He already had a reputation as a phenomenal player (with a bit of an attitude when things didn’t go his way) and cemented that rep forever when he stopped Johnny “Orient Express” Chan from becoming the first player in history to win three back-to-back (to back) WSOP championships.

It was the beginning of a race, even though Chan didn’t know it, one that would loop in venerable poker legend Doyle Brunson. Who could reach 10 WSOP bracelets first? Chan would get payback by snagging that record, followed shortly afterwards by Brunson. Hellmuth was left out of the club for an entire year, despite Herculean efforts involving playing every event he possibly could.

Then he caught up, and then surpassed the gang, entering a club with a membership of one (just how he likes it) when he scored his 11^th bracelet in the 2007 WSOP. He didn’t stop there, however, also obliterating the record for career WSOP cashes and tying the record for most WSOP final tables.

Phil is known for a few things in poker. He is a champion at the game, he is a master of self promotion, he loves to show up late to poker tournaments (and still win), and he can throw a world-class fit. His second, more viscous nickname, Poker Brat, resulted from this final trait, but like a true showman Phil has embraced the label, even wearing apparel with the nickname proudly featured.

Many find Hellmuth to be endearing as well as annoying, and there is no doubt that he is one of most recognizable and distinct characters in the poker world. No Poker ProBot battle royal would be complete with out the Hellmouth ProBot raising hell and hunting trophies in its quest to prove that it is the world’s best poker playing machine.