Phil Hellmuth Wins a Record 16th WSOP Bracelet

Love him or loathe him, there is no denying Phil Hellmuth knows his way around a poker tournament table. The self-proclaimed “Poker Brat” won his 16th WSOP bracelet this week, extending his lead over his nearest rivals to six bracelets. Hellmuth’s latest victory came in Event #31: $1,500 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw.

Thirteen of Hellmuth’s bracelets stem from Hold’em events at the World Series of Poker. Only Hellmuth and Doyle Brunson have won five or more Hold’em bracelets. The man from Wisconsin has put many hours into his mixed game skills, and it shows.

He finished sixth in the $25,000 H.O.R.S.E. event for $95,329 before finishing 18th in the $1,500 Dealer’s Choice 6-Handed tournament for $4,429. A fifth-place finish in the $10,000 Omaha Hi-Lo Championship, worth $80,894, saw Hellmuth come agonizingly close to winning his 16th WSOP bracelet. He got even closer in the $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship. Hellmuth’s fourth-place finish came with a $54,730 payout.

Hellmuth finally secured his 16th WSOP bracelet in the most unlikely tournament: $1,500 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw.

16th WSOP Bracelet Comes in an Unlikely Event

The tournament regularly attracts some of the best poker players on the planet. Many consider this format to be the truest form of poker, a game where reads on your opponent are of significant help.

Some 272 players bought into the tournament and created a $363,120 prize pool. Jonathan Williams burst the money bubble in 42nd place, paving the way to at least $2,445 for the surviving players.

The likes of four-time bracelet winner Brian Rast, triple WSOP champions Greg Mueller, Brian Yoon, and John Monnette, cashed. As did Jeremy Ausmus, and former Main Event winner Ryan Riess who fell in ninth and set the final table.

Hellmuth reached the final table with the chip lead and a legitimate shot at his 16th WSOP bracelet. The likelihood of him winning more poker gold increased with the eliminations of Kevin Gerhart and Jason Lipiner.

The 2019 WSOP Main Event runner-up Dario Sammartino busted in sixth before Joshua Faris bowed out in fifth to leave Hellmuth three eliminations away from his 16th WSOP bracelet.

Hellmuth Reaches The Heads-Up Stage

Jake Schwartz sent three-time bracelet winner Rep Porter to the rail in fourth. Hellmuth busted Chris Vitch immediately after, and the tournament was heads-up.

Schwartz took an early lead, but Hellmuth fought back and began forging a lead for himself. The final hand took place during the tournament’s 27th level. Hellmuth set Schwartz all-in, and Schwartz called.

Hellmuth’s winning hand was 9x-8x-7x-5x-2x, and Schwartz’s Tx-4x-4x-3x-2x. Game over for Schwartz and a 16th WSOP bracelet for a delighted Hellmuth.

The freshly minted champion spoke to PokerNews shortly after his latest victory. He explained how he has always wanted a 2-7 bracelet because it was the tournament all the big names turned out for. Hellmuth now has his wish.

Place	Player	Country	Prize
1	Phil Hellmuth	United States	$84,851
2	Jake Schwartz	United States	$52,502
3	Chris Vitch	United States	$36,387
4	Rep Porter	United States	$25,661
5	Joshua Faris	United States	$18,421
6	Dario Sammartino	Italy	$13,463
7	Jason Lipiner	United States	$10,023
8	Kevin Gerhart	United States	$7,602

Hellmuth’s Complete Bracelet Haul Breakdown

Year	Event	Prize
1989	$10,000 WSOP Main Event	$755,000
1992	$5,000 Limit Hold’em	$188,000
1993	$2,500 No-Limit Hold’em	$173,000
1993	$1,500 No-Limit Hold’em	$161,400
1993	$5,000 Limit Hold’em	$138,000
1997	$3,000 Pot-Limit Hold’em	$204,000
2001	$2,000 No-Limit Hold’em	$316,550
2003	$2,500 No-Limit Hold’em	$171,400
2003	$3,000 No-Limit Hold’em	$410,860
2006	$1,000 No-Limit Hold’em	$631,863
2007	$1,500 No-Limit Hold’em	$637,254
2012	$2,500 Seven Card Razz	$182,793
2012	$10,500 WSOP Europe Main Event	€1,022,376 ($1,333,841)
2015	$10,000 Razz Championship	$271,105
2018	$5,000 No-Limit Hold’em	$485,082
2021	$1,500 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw	$84,851

Brad Johnson

You name the game, and you can bet your bottom dollar that Brad has either played it or placed a wager on it! Brad calls himself a natural gambler, and someone who gains as much enjoyment from writing about the crazy game of poker as he does playing it.

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