Phil Hellmuth, Jr.

VITALS:

Name: Phillip “Phil” Hellmuth, Jr.
Date of Birth: July 16, 1964
Nationality: American
Hometown: Palo Alto, California
WSOP Bracelets: 11
WSOP Cashes: 77
WPT Titles: 0
WPT Cashes: 11
Online Poker Room: UltimateBet Poker

PROFILE:

When your nickname is The Poker Brat, it’s pretty certain that there’s a knock or two coming your way. And that’s certainly the case for Phil Hellmuth, Jr., who is considered to be one of the best Texas Hold’em players in the world and also thought to be one of the biggest whiners. Angry outbursts, goofy antics and unbelievable tournament runs define his existence at the poker table.

Hellmuth, who dropped out of the University of Wisconsin in 1988 to pursue a career as a professional poker player, pulled a major upset at the WSOP Main Event in 1989 when, at the age of 24, he took the title from two-time defending champ Johnny Chan. Since that time, he has proven to be one of the best tournament players on the planet, having amassed 11 bracelets and close to two-dozen first place finishes. However, some critics claim that he’s not as good as some say he is since his cash playing chops are not what they should be.

One thing is certain: his table demeanor and behavior are often questionable. He’s been known to go off like a firecracker if an opponent beats him on the river due to luck. Additionally, he often tries to get under the skin of other players by talking at them and offering caustic remarks. He may high-five folks in the crowd when he wins a big hand, stand up and study his cards before placing a wager or ride and ridicule another player. In a way, it’s part of his strategy that’s devoted to distracting opponents from the moment at-hand while he remains focused.

The poker champ resides in Palo Alto, California, with his wife, who is a psychiatrist at Stanford, and two sons. Hellmuth is devoted to his family. One other point: as a poker player, he is extremely tough on himself. His desire is to be the best poker player of all time.