Hellmuth Plays Some Of The Best Poker Of His Life

Phil Hellmuth – otherwise affectionately (or disingenuously) known as – 'the Poker Brat', recently said that he played the best poker of his life at the French WSOPE tournament. He also managed to nab his 13th Career Bracelet, and extend the benchmark for the most wins in WSOP history. He has been a poker revelation for most of his life (at least in the tournament arena), but this was an über-exceptional performance.

The 2012 World Series of Poker Europe, was hosted at the Hotel Majestic Barriere in Cannes, where Hellmuth defeated Sergii Baranov to win the title, the prizes and the trophy. There was a first-place cash prize of €1,022,376. Baranov, of the Ukraine, had to settle for a prize of €632,592. This Was the 7th and final event of this years’ WSOPE which attracted 420 entries, offering a total prize pool of €4,032,000.

Both Donny Chan and Doyle Brunson have won ten WSOP bracelets each, so this win puts him ahead of the game by three. It is his second bracelet for this calendar year, which matches Antonio Esfandiari who has also won two bracelets this year. Hellmuth reckons that his poker game constantly evolves, and that this is how it is supposed to be, but things really worked out well this time; his game is never the same. He has a total of 95 WSOP cashes, including this win, dating back to his first ever win in 1989.

This newer, European version of the World Series of Poker, has the title expand into previously unexplored territories. The competition allows for more local poker players to get a look-in on the action. For example, Baranov from the Ukraine who took second place, and Stephane Albertini of France who took third place in the tournament. Hellmuth has recaptured the lead in the2012 WSOP Player of the Year points race.

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