| One of the most controversial players in
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| | His World Series of Poker accomplishments
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| the world of poker, Phil Hellmuth, Jr. is
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| | include: first place finishes in The
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| often known by the not-so-affectionate
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| | Championship Event in 1989, Limit Hold
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| moniker of "The Poker Brat." But while
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| | 'em in 1992, 1993, and 2003, two No Limit
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| his antics at the table have been known
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| | Hold 'em events in 1993, one in 2001, and
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| to ruffle a few feathers, Hellmuth has
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| | one in 2003, and Pot Limit Hold 'em in
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| also been one of the most dominating
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| | 1997.
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| players over the course of his career. In
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| | However, for all his accomplishments,
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| fact, many fans of the game view him as
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| | Phil has yet to win at the final table of
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| the face of professional poker,
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| | a World Poker Tour event. He finished
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| especially Texas Hold 'em.
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| | fourth at the Lucky Chances event (season
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| Born July 16th, 1964 in Madison,
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| | one) and third at Foxwoods (season two).
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| Wisconsin, Phillip J. Hellmuth, Jr. was
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| | No doubt, this brings a smile to the face
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| the oldest of five children. Being the
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| | of his detractors.
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| son of a successful university assistant
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| | Hellmuth is also involved in many
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| dean, Phil excelled in school and looked
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| | ventures away from the card table. He
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| poised to follow in his father's academic
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| | frequently contributes to Card Player
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| footsteps. Fate, however, had other
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| | Magazine, as well as having penned Play
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| plans.
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| | Poker like the Pros, Bad Beats and Lucky
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| Phil enrolled in the University of
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| | Draws, Poker Brat (which was on the
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| Wisconsin, and it was here that his poker
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| | best-seller list for a month), and The
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| career got off the ground. He was
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| | Greatest Poker Hands Ever Played. He has
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| initially invited to play in cash poker
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| | also made several instructional videos,
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| games at the student union, but soon
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| | including Phil Hellmuth's Million Dollar
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| found that the low-dollar games didn't
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| | Poker Secrets. He is a spokesperson for
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| present enough of a challenge. Months
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| | the Ultimate Bet online poker room, and
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| later, he was competing against
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| | has been collaborating with Oakley on a
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| professors and other members of the
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| | signature line of sunglasses (no doubt,
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| campus community in $100 buy-in games.
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| | to compliment his signature line of
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| Hellmuth did so well that he was able to
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| | clothing). Phil also writes a syndicated
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| pay off his student loans and still have
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| | column which is printed in over 40 U.S.
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| a $20,000 bankroll left over. At this
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| | newspapers.
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| point, he dropped out of college in his
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| | When he's not traveling around the world
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| junior year and became a professional
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| | playing poker, Hellmuth makes his home in
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| poker player.
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| | Palo Alto, California with his wife
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| In 1989, the 24-year-old Hellmuth
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| | Katherine (a psychiatrist at Stanford
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| defeated Johnny Chan to become the
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| | University) and two sons, Phillip III and
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| youngest champion of the World Series of
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| | Nicholas. His favorite food is salmon,
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| Poker main event. As of 2006, he has won
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| | while his favorite music and movies range
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| an impressive nine World Series of Poker
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| | from Pearl Jam and The American President
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| bracelets (bracelets are awarded to
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| | to The Rolling Stones and The Matrix.
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| tournament winners), all in the Texas
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| | He estimates that his skill at poker and
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| Hold 'em events. He was the season three
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| | fondness for self-promotion may earn him
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| champion of Late Night Poker, and he
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| | as much as $400,000,000 in his lifetime.
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| defeated Chris Ferguson in 2005 to win
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| | Then again, would you expect anything
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| the inaugural National Heads-Up Poker
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| | less from the face of modern professional
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| Championship. As of 2006, his total live
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| | poker?
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| tournament winnings exceed $7,200,000.
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