That's Why He's Phil Hellmuth

[user253757]

Level 17 : 4,000/8,000, 1,000 ante

Phil Hellmuth has made a lucrative living with his play on the felt, but its his act away from the table that has made him poker's most recognizable name.

Ranting, raving, and hectoring his way through a glorious career on the felt, Hellmuth has claimed top honors in the ongoing chase for WSOP bracelet glory, adding an astounding 13 of those ducats to his world-class résumé. There's one item missing from that résumé though... a World Poker Tour title.

The "Poker Brat" certainly knows what a win in this WPT World Championship would mean for his legacy, and during the last level of play he let the whole room know it too.

First, during a hand against Jordan Cristos, we watched Hellmuth check-call a bet of 13,000 on the flop. When the arrived to pair the board on the turn, Hellmuth sprung to life, firing out for 17,000 and launching into his trademark table talk.

"A four's not really in my range here..." he told Cristos from across the table. "But you already know that about me."

Cristos took the hint and laid his hand down without responding, and Hellmuth piped up again, telling Cristos "just two eights kid. That's all."

Later on, Hellmuth limped into the pot holding what he claimed to be , before an amateur player decided to test the Brat with a raise to 25,000. Hellmuth flatted to see the flop, and he led out for 17,000 trying to bully his less experienced opponent. That man was not impressed, however, and he made it 55,000 to play, prompting yet another Hellmuthian performance after he elected to fold.

"I mean, I invented that move, limping in with king-queen..." he told the table. "That's why I'm Phil Hellmuth."

The lecture continued as Hellmuth telling the man, "You're trying to give me your money there... not sure why you don't want to make money, but that's fine."

You can't make this stuff up folks... trust us. One can only hope Hellmuth's short-stack grind continues, because win or lose, the show never ends.