Phil Hellmuth has told CBS Sports that he deserves the title of the G.O.A.T—Greatest of All-Time. The “Poker Brat” tells how in the last 25 years his World Series of Poker record is the best, but does concede that some of the younger generation might be stronger than him today.
With an incredible 148 cashes at the WSOP, Hellmuth has followed through and made the final table in 64 of them.
“I have earned the title of G.O.A.T. in poker”
“I have earned the title of G.O.A.T. in poker. I may lose that title in five years or 10 years or 30 years, but I hope to retain it. 99 percent of the poker world feels I have earned that title.When it comes to all-around poker tournament greatness in 2021, there is a compelling argument that I am right there. In the last 25 WSOP tournaments in the real world, I have the best record.”
It is certainly contentious that 99% of the poker community agrees with Phil Hellmuth. He is by far the most polarising character the game has ever seen, with many claiming he is an out-of-touch dinosaur relying on his past record in a much softer era.
Phil Hellmuth Says Making Great Reads Never Goes Out of Style
Phil Hellmuth has long contended that his style of play is immune to whatever new strategies evolve in the game. He calls it a “counterpunching” strategy that is reliant on making accurate reads.
“Two things: great reading abilities never go out of style. Secondly, I have always been a counter puncher. When you have great reads, you will always be able to make great folds and great calls,”
Maybe Hellmuth does have a point here, and it would also explain why he never seriously moved into online poker, preferring to stick with the live game: If a player gives off a read then it doesn’t matter how GTO or balanced they think they are playing. Phil Hellmuth is saying that he just knows which part of that range they have right now.
Hellmuth Says He Looks for Flaws in What the Masses Believe to Exploit Them
Phil Hellmuth’s counterpunching strategy probably does serve him well against a field full of amateurs, but we have doubts about its effectiveness against the best players.
It’s one thing to be able to stare down a man and claim you can see into his soul but quite another to say you can work around a true GTO strategy execution with your own counter. It’s also doubtful that Hellmuth himself even believes this.
“Regarding counter punching: whatever the masses believe to be the correct strategy of the day—they stick together—I look for flaws and exploit them. For example, if someone is playing too loose versus me, I look for a moment to call them, or bluff them.”
High Stakes Duel III vs. Nick Wright to take place on July 28
One area of poker that Phil Hellmuth really does crush his opponents in is heads-up tournament poker. Having smashed Antonio Esfandiari and Daniel Negreanu recently, he is about to take on Nick Wright later this month.
The Fox Sports 1 host will be trying to break Hellmuth’s hold on this popular format. The rules remain the same: a $50,000 buy-in to start with the stakes doubling for every rematch.
If Hellmuth does come through this match unscathed then hopefully Tom Dwan will finally get his shot for revenge. He previously showed interest in squaring up against the man who is currently undefeated in the High Stakes Duel.
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