Phil Hellmuth did it again, winning his 17th World Series of Poker gold bracelet. [Image: PokerGO.com]
white magic
“Those who do not believe in magic will never find it.”
~ Roald Dahl
Phil Hellmuth has done it again. Against a tough, high-contrast format field, poker’s most famous “white magic” player notched a record 17th World Series of Poker victory in the $10,000 Super Turbo Bounty No-Limit Hold’em event. It is also his record-extending tenth win in No-Limit Hold’em events at the WSOP.
Wish it was, bash, a bumpy day at Poker Brat’s self-styled hair in this fast-paced tournament where he sometimes wrestled cockroaches and at other times slashed his way through a field of 642 participants. This attendance was also noteworthy, as it broke the previous tournament record of 419 players.
Once again, his importance as a force in the modern game has become beyond question
Hellmuth has been amazingly consistent in the WSOP since his big win in the main event in 1989. He won five bracelets in the 1990s, five in the 2000s, four in the 2000s, and now two in 2020. Occasionally abused by his peers, he is concerned with proving his critics wrong, and with this result, his importance as a force in the modern game is again unquestionable.
The magic of the short stack
“The world is full of magical things, we patiently wait for our senses to sharpen.”
~ W.B. Yeats
Hellmuth’s short-stack playing style has always been a bit “non-standard” because over the years, he’s been against the mainstream poker winds that have championed an all-in-all or fold-for-stacks approach of a certain shallowness. Contemporary analysts have in fact validated many of what were once thought of as unorthodox lines. There is also reason to believe that he understands the exploitative side of the game as it relates to how people react to his presence at their table.
Hellmuth’s short chip game was tested throughout yesterday’s tournament and, in particular, on a final table that included ten-time bracelet winner Phil Ivey. Hellmuth was in the middle of the pack with only 13 big blinds and climbed up ahead of him as LA player Chris Savage sat with 66 big blinds, 40% of the chips in play.
Phil Ivey was eliminated in the sixth when he powered the King-Ten into Hellmuth’s Pocket Aces. Then, having reached that point, things quickly went south for Savage, who lost a series of pots before being dumped with the Pocket Kings against the Queen-Nine in an all-in-a-flop battle of the blinds. Brazil’s Kelvin Kerber and Monster Germany’s Tom Koons bowed out for fourth and third, respectively, leaving Justin Zaki to do battle with Hellmuth for the top prize of $803,818 and the all-important wrist candy.
magical moment
“The magic continues without us no matter what we might do to try to ruin it.”
~ Charles Bukowski
In the first hand of singles play, Zaki limped in with 7 ️6 ♠️ and Phil Hellmuth checked his option with 8 ️4♥️. The flip K♣️8♠️4♠️ came up and drove Helmuth out, pushing Zaki, who cut him off.
Leaves flowed on their backs, and Zaki was in danger. His straight flush draw meant he needed a five or a spade to take the lead, but it was Hellmuth who hit the turn with the distributor making the 4♦️. “Yes!” “Well, there are no five of spades!” cried Helmuth triumphantly, knowing he had to fade one.
The river came from the K♠️ and Helmuth gleefully stroked the air before sprinting a short victory lap with his arms held high, a magical moment the little railroaders who had gathered enjoyed despite the late hour.
Moments later, Hellmuth posted confirmation of the result on social media.
Almost like magic
“The magic happens when you don’t give up, even though you want to. The universe always falls in love with a stubborn heart.”
~ JM Storm
The day started with another White Magic Disciple at a final table as winning Irish player Andy Black sat at the final table for the $1,000 Super Turbo Bounty event. Black is reputed to be a believer in the same magical arts, likening them to heightened awareness and responsiveness that aids execution and to the personal characteristics of live poker.
Black was ultimately a very unfortunate triple when he lost with Ace-King to King-Jack all-in pre-flop for the vast majority of chips in play. As he walked out of the arena with an impressive payday of $105,337, the torch of “white magic” was passed to Helmuth, whose WSOP has been a frustrating experience so far this year.
After a valiant effort at the $10,000 HORSE Championship less than a week ago, Hellmuth has occasionally called his shot:
With the record-breaking WSOP Main Event looming and Hellmuth still bubbling to life with his brand of “positive,” the Breinfuel-backed white magician hopes to fully show what he has to offer in the universe. After all, what is positivity if not hope and hope can be a powerful force. Even if there is no such thing as magic, when you most often know what you hope for, and keep it like the light within you, you can sometimes make things happen, almost like magic.
