Phil Hellmuth (The Poker Brat)

A true legend of world poker, Phil Hellmuth Jr. stands out for his staggering record of achievements, one of the most impressive in history, as well as for his explosive, indiscreet and controversial personality.

Phil Hellmuth Junior was born in Madison, Wisconsin, on July 16, 1964. The eldest of a family of five, he regularly played card games with his close friends, particularly his grandmother Agnes Slattery. As he began his graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Phil Hellmuth began to earn enough money from poker that he gave up his studies to devote himself fully to his favorite game. After several unsuccessful attempts to get into the poker game, Phil Hellmuth decided to give it a try.

That same year, 1988, he won the 4th edition of the "Diamond Jim Brady" in Los Angeles, for $125,000, and finished 2nd in a Side Event for $72,000, which helped his bankroll take off. The following year would be one of revelation. After another PLO final table, Phil Hellmuth won the 20th edition of the WSOP Main Event for $755,000, at the age of 24. He became the youngest ever winner of this prestigious tournament. The record was only beaten by Peter Eastgate in 2008. A first record, which would call for many more.

The quest for WSOP bracelets

This was indeed the beginning of his incredible collection of WSOP bracelets. In 1993, he achieved a fabulous treble, across three Hold'Em tournaments (as well as a runner-up finish in Deuce to Seven) for total winnings of over half a million dollars. In 2001, he reached five more final tables, including a new title, then rolled over the festival again in 2003, with two victories, including a juicy one in the $3,000 NLHE, where he cashed for $410,000.

The idyll with poker's biggest festival continued throughout the 2000s. In 2006, he joined Doyle Brunson and Johnny Chan in the WSOP pantheon with 10 wins, then surpassed both men the very next year by winning the $1,500 NLHE for $637,254. The harvest continues into 2018: by winning the $5,000 NLHE, Phil Hellmuth Jr. takes his total number of bracelets to 15! He also holds the record for ITMs and runner-up finishes in WSOP history.

The Poker Brat

Phil Hellmuth also stands out for his unique character. An expressive type, Phil Hellmuth lets his joy explode when he wins, but also his rage and resentment in more difficult moments. Numerous video sequences show the famous "tilt" of the man nicknamed the "Poker Brat". As the years went by, Phil Hellmuth was able to restore his image, with a more decent attitude and becoming an ambassador for world poker.

World poker figure

His countless successes make Phil Hellmuth one of the greatest players in history. Inducted into the Poker Hall Of Fame in 2007, the American has also played a major role in the media coverage of poker. He has written several books on the game, including the best-selling "Plau Poker Like The Pro's", dedicated to his grandmother, with whom he loved to play. A regular contributor to "Card Player Magazine", Phil Hellmuth also appears on numerous television shows, including High Stakes Poker, Poker After Dark, and more recently, Poker Go High Stakes Duel, where he competes, with great success, against the world's greatest players in Heads-up.

With over $24 million in winnings accumulated on the circuit, Phil Hellmuth is undoubtedly one of the world's greatest players, but also a poker icon, still present in the game's upper echelons after a 25-year career.