Hellmuth's Recollection Isn't So Good
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We were passing by Phil Hellmuth's table and he was engaged in some friendly conversation with the players at the table.
"Have you ever won a $1,500 or $1,000 event Phil?" a player asked.
"I've won two. One was a $1,000 and I think we had around 2,800 players. The other one was a $1,500 and I think we had around 1,700 players," Hellmuth said.
The statement piqued our curiosity so we ran to do some quick research. Hellmuth actually has three WSOP bracelets from low buy in events - one $1,000 event and two from $1,500 events.
He earned his first $1,000 event bracelet in a 2006 rebuy event that attracted 754 players. His most recent $1,500 bracelet came in 2007 and there were 2,628 entrants. Interestingly, Andy Philachack finished runner-up to Hellmuth and is seated only a few tables away.
His first $1,500 event bracelet came in a 1993 No Limit Hold'em event that had 284 entrants.
and a number of chips already in the middle. Mike Roche's opponent had pushed all in for his last 2,800. The tattooed Roche drummed the table for a moment with the knuckles of his right hand, the letters "G-O-O-D" visible as he did. Finally he used that hand to slide forward the chips to call, then, with his other hand — on which the knuckles read "E-V-I-L" — he turned over his hand.
. His opponent stood as he showed his 
— a lesser set of fives.
, and we've lost another player. The next hand began, and Roche was raising before the flop, again pushing out chips with his "G-O-O-D" hand.
. The raiser checked, and Hellmuth quickly declared a bet of 475. His opponent called. "Really?" said Hellmuth. "Okay."
and once more the middle position player checked. Hellmuth made as if to bet, then said "okay" again and checked behind. Both then checked the 
river.
for the better pair of queens, and won the pot.
— as the chips were slid his way. "The table's about to break, anyway," he noted with a grin.
flop that paired Vamplew's king, and after the 
turn and 
river he'd survived to continue here in Level 5.
