Thomas “Amarillo Slim” Preston is known as much for his gambling and prop betting as he is for his prowess in poker. Throughout the years, Slim has bet on everything from playing pool with a broom to betting on presidential elections. In fact, this year at the 2008 WSOP, I personally witnessed him prop bet one of my coworkers as to who could make more free throws in basketball. My coworker is over 6’4” tall and Slim is 79.
Amarillo Slim was one of the first seven original players that started the World Series of Poker in 1970. However, it wasn’t until 1972 that Slim took down his first title. The 1972 World Series of Poker Main Even had eight entrants that year. $5,000 per player was added to the prize pool. This was done as a publicity stunt to try and draw spectators into the Horseshoe.
Puggy Pearson, Doyle Brunson, Crandall Addington, Jack Straus, Johnny Moss, Roger Van Ausdall, Jimmy Casella, and Preston battled it out for the $80,000 top prize. Doyle Brunson, Puggy Pearson, and Slim were the last three remaining in the event when Brunson struck a deal to “cash out” his chips for $20,000. Then Puggy Pearson and Amarillo Slim battled it out for the adjusted top prize of $60,000. Pearson held a 2 to 1 chip lead, but Slim was able to battle back and win his first Main Event title.
According to Barry Greenstein, the Main Event went down slightly differently than history portrays it. Apparently Doyle Brunson, Puggy Pearson, and Amarillo Slim struck a deal to where they would throw the event and let Slim have the win. In exchange for the win, Slim agreed to let them have the prize money. After winning the Main Event, Amarillo Slim went on various talk shows to talk about his win at the World Series of Poker. He garnered a lot of fame and even picked up a part in a Robert Altman movie entitled California Split. If Greenstein’s story about the 1972 Series being thrown is true, then Slim made a very wise business decision. Giving up $80,000 was well worth the publicity he received as a result of his win.
In all, Amarillo Slim won 4 bracelets at the World Series of Poker. Two were in Pot Limit Omaha and two were in No Limit Holdem. Even at 79, Slim is still playing at a high level. He has cashed in the Seniors event at the 2007 and 2008 World Series of Poker. He also plays in a few selected events. Whenever he is at the table, players take note. It is still a big thrill for a player to be able to say that they took a pot of Amarillo Slim.
Amarillo Slim is a classic example of an old school gambler. He bets on anything that you can wager on and likes the thrill of chasing the dollar. If the story of how he won the 1972 World Series of Poker is true, than that just adds one more legend to the man that has so many legendary tales. Play online poker on Titan Poker.
Whether you love or hate Phil Hellmuth you can not deny that he might just be the best player in the history of the WSOP. If he is not the best he at least is on the short list of players that would include Doyle Brunson, Johnny Chan, Stu Unger and Chip Reese. Phil has one thing on all these guys or anyone you can think of , he has more bracelets. In 2007 Phil set the record that he already shared with Johnny Chan and Doyle Brunson, by winning his eleventh bracelet. Phil has made more then five million dollars at the World Series of Poker alone and you can’t take that away from him.
The first bracelet came in 1989 and still is Phil’s biggest cash at the World Series of Poker. In 1989 Phil won the $10,000 No Limit Hold’ em Main Event, and took home $755,000. That seems like nothing compared to the fact that the Main Event winner these days can make more then $10,000,000. You need to realize that in those days the Main Event was filled with top professional players, although the field was no where near the size of today’s events. In 1989 Phil was only 24 years old and his first bracelet didn’t come easy, he had to defeat Johnny Chan heads up to take the title. At the time Johnny was going for his third straight title and may have been the best poker player in the world. The two years following Phil’s breakthrough win, he didn’t manage to win a bracelet, but in 1992 he took home the $5000 Limit Holdem poker bracelet.
1993 was the year that Phil Hellmuth officially began the talk that he might be the best player in the poker world. He showed up at the 1993 World Series of Poker with two bracelets on his wrist and left when it was all said and done he left with five. He won three events in 1993 including the $1500 No Limit Hold’ em, $2,500 No Limit Hold ‘em and the $5,000 Limit Hold’ em. Hellmuth walked away from the 1993 World Series of Poker with more then $450,000 in earning and three coveted bracelets. For the three years following Phil’s breakthrough in 1993 he didn’t manage to win a single bracelet, but broke through again in 1997. In 1997 Hellmuth won the $3000 Pot Limit Hold’ em tournament taking home more then $200,000. Heading into 2001 Phil Hellmuth was a poker legend, he had six bracelets and was looking for more. More he would get winning in 2001 and two more in 2003. In 2006 he tied poker legends Chan and Brunson winning his tenth bracelet in the $1,000 No Limit Hold’ em Rebuy tournament. In 2007 Phil captured his second best single tournament earning at the World Series when he won over $630,000 in the $1,500 No Limit Hold’ em event, his record breaking eleventh bracelet.
“The Poker Brat”, is Phil Hellmuth’s nickname when he is sitting at the poker table. As the World Series of Poker gained exposure on television, so did Phil. Hellmuth. He became as popular for his antics at the poker as he was for his excellent play. Phil is known to speak his feelings when he is at the tables, if he thinks you made a bad play he is going to tell you about it, maybe more then once. If you are at a table with Phil and you hit an inside straight to beat his set, you better watch out. This persona has taken Hellmuth along ways, the public want to see him play. Most because of his unpredictable attitude, but some even watch to see a great poker player in action. Look past the commercials and the tirades at the table and you will find an excellent poker mind. “The Poker Brat” has his own style, unique to him and was created through years of experience. If you play like Phil, it will be like walking on a tight rope, you never know when you are going to fall. His passive and slow play opens himself up to get sucked out on, or to win pots with monster hands. Try it play like that and you will find you might get a little upset from time to time at the tables to.
Texas Hold’ em is Phil Hellmuth’s game, all eleven of his bracelets won playing it. He has won bracelets playing Pot Limit, Limit and No Limit Hold’ em, but has never won playing another form of poker. People who criticize Phil tend to look directly at this stat, and I guess if you want to bash the guy that’s about all you got. I am not one of these people, Hellmuth has mastered hold’ em and why not play it as much as you can. I think one day Phil will win a bracelet in say Omaha, Seven Card or maybe he’ll even win the HORSE one day.
No matter what you personally think of Phil Hellmuth you cannot deny the guy the fact that he may just be the best Texas Hold’ em player to ever live. Of course that is something that we will never know, but Hellmuth has won eleven bracelets playing Hold’ em. “The Poker Brat” will always have his critics, but if you ask around the top pros in the world you find they have great respect for his game. People will hate on Phil because of his exposure, much like the way people hate on Tiger Woods in golf, but it is not warranted. Hellmuth is still in his prime and who knows how many bracelets he will win in his life time, but you can be assured that he will try to win them all. Over Five Million Dollars in career World Series of Poker earnings, a record eleven bracelets and more then sixty cashes, Phil Hellmuth is a legend at the World Series of Poker.
The 2008 World Series of Poker will be known as the “Year of the Pro.” Many pros won bracelet at this years with one winning his first two bracelets. Below are the top five moments from the 2008 WSOP preliminary events.
#5: Mike Matusow Wins Third Bracelet
The final table of the NL 2-7 Lowball with Rebuys event was one of the strongest in World Series of Poker history. Jeffrey Lisandro, Tony G, Barry Greenstein, Erick Lindgren, Tom Schneider, and Mike Matusow played a final table that went well into the night. Play was up and down all night for Matusow but in the end Matusow was able to outlast Jeffrey Lisandro and take his third World Series of Poker bracelet. For his win, Matusow took home $537,862.
#4: David Benyamine Wins First Bracelet
The final table of the $10,000 Omaha Hi-Low World Championship included several top pros. Tony Ma, Mike Matusow, David Benyamine, David Chiu, Toto Leonidas, Ram Vaswani, and Berry Johnston all were vying for the top honors. Mike Matusow was trying for his second bracelet of the series and made things interesting. In the end David Benyamine weaved his way through the field, taking pots along the way and keeping his stack healthy. Once Mike Matusow was eliminated, Benyamine’s experience took over and by the time play was three handed, Benyamine had around 70% of the chips. Heads-Up play was almost a formality as Benyamine continued to hammer and outdraw his opponent to finally secure his first bracelet. Benyamine took home $535,687 for his win.
#3: Erick Lindgren Finally Breaks Through
Up until 2008, Erick Lindgren was considered the greatest poker player to not have a World Series of Poker bracelet. Lindgren finally shed that title in 2008 when he bested an all star field to take the $5,000 Mixed Holdem event. Lindgren took his first bracelet and the top prize of $374,505. In addition, Lindgren also finished 4th in the NL 2-7 Lowball event and finished 3rd in the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event. He had five total cashes for the World Series of Poker and won the Player of the Year Award.
#2: John “Razor” Phan wins two bracelets.
In a heads-up match that saw three hands played “all-in blind”, John Phan emerged with his first bracelet in the $3,000 NL Holdem event. The win netted him $434,789. A few days later, Phan won the 2-7 Triple Draw Lowball event for a prize of $151,911 and his second gold bracelet.
#1: Scotty Nguyen wins the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E Event.
The final table of the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event again was a stacked field. Erick Lindgren, Scotty Nguyen, Michael DeMichelle, Matt Glantz, Lyle Berman, Huck Seed, Barry Greenstein, and Patrick Bueno came together after four days of play to try and make their place in history. After a long final table and a long heads up match with Michael DeMichelle, Scotty Nguyen emerged as the winner of the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event. This was Nguyen’s fifth bracelet and ranks second to only his 1998 Main Event victory. For his win, Nguyen won the bracelet and $1,989,120. Play online poker on Titan Poker.
Yesterday we started reviewing the top 10 bracelet winners in WSOP history. Today we continue our countdown to #1.
Coming in at #5 is Erik Seidel. Erik Seidel is probably best known from his appearance in the movie Rounders when he was shown finishing second to Johnny Chan in the 1988 World Series of Poker. Since then, Seidel has put together a bracelet run that has him on pace to make a serious challenge at the all time lead. He holds two No Limit Holdem bracelets, 2 Limit Holdem bracelets, 2 Lowball bracelets, 1 Omaha Hi-Lo bracelet, and a Pot Limit Omaha bracelet. His last bracelet win was in 2007 for the No Limit 2-7 Lowball event. Erik is well known for his solid play and quiet demeanor at the table. I have actually had opportunity to play with Erik and he is the consummate professional.
The “Grand Old Man of Poker” comes in at #4. Johnny Moss was the first ever Main Event winner of the World Series of Poker in 1970. That year he was voted in as champion by his pears. Moss also won the 1971 and 1974 Main event. Besides Stu Ungar, Johnny Moss is the only person to ever win the Main Event three times. Overall, Moss held 9 bracelets. He held 3 in No Limit Holdem (all Main Event wins), 3 in Seven Card Stud, 2 in Ace to Five Lowball, and 1 in Stud 8 or better. Moss’s legend was made long before the World Series ever existed. 1949 he played a 5 month marathon session with Nick the Greek. At the end of the marathon, Nick the Greek simply told Moss, “Mr. Moss, I have to let you go.” Moss played professionally all the way up to his death. Johnny Moss passed away in 1995 at the age of 88.
Third and Second place are held by two men that really need no introduction to many in the poker world. Both men hold 10 bracelets at present.
Johnny Chan is the last man to win back to back Main Events, winning both the 1987 and 1988 Main Event. He almost made it three in a row but lost in 1989 to Phil Hellmuth. Chan can always be seen with his signature orange at the table. He started carrying it back in the days were smoking were allowed in poker rooms. He would use it to try and freshen the air a bit. Chan bracelets include 3 in No Limit Holdem, 2 in Pot Limit Omaha, 1 in Limit Holdem, 1 in 2 to 7 Lowball, 1 in Pot Limit Holdem, 1 in 7 card Stud, and 1 in Heads-up Match Play.
Doyle “Texas Dolly” Brunson is considered both the Godfather of Poker and the greatest poker player alive today. He is legendary for winning both the 1976 and 1977 World Series of Poker holding 10-2 for the final hand. Doyle Brunson’s book Super System and follow up book Super System II have taught millions of player around the world how to play poker of all types. Doyle holds four bracelets in No Limit Holdem, 1 in Seven Card Stud, 1 in Stud 8 or Better, 1 in Razz, 1 in 2-7 Lowball, 1 in H.O.R.S.E., and 1 in Mixed Doubles. His last bracelet was in 2005 for the $5,000 No Limit Holdem event. He won the event with 10-3 offsuit. At 75 Brunson is still a forced to be reckoned with. At this year’s WSOP he finished twice in the money, including the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event. #1 on the list of all-time bracelet holders at the World Series of Poker is none other than Phil Hellmuth. Phil is commonly known as the “poker brat” for his antics and attitude at the poker table. He won the 1989 Main Event against Johnny Chan and for nearly the last 20 years has been referred to by many, including himself, to be the best Holdem player ever. All of Hellmuth’s eleven bracelets are in Holdem. Seven are in No Limit Holdem, three are in Limit Holdem, and one is in Pot Limit Holdem. To quote Norman Chad, “He is referred to as a one trick pony. But what a trick it is.” Phil will be first to tell you that it is very possible that his 11 bracelets could have very well been at least 14. In 2006, besides winning his 10th bracelet, he finished 2nd and 3rd in two other events. At this year’s WSOP, Hellmuth finished third in the $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. event and made the final table of another event.
With the size of the massive fields in the Main Event and other No Limit Holdem events, many pros are fining it tougher to win a bracelet. Many are turning to mixed events and higher buy-in No Limit events to give themselves a better chance at another bracelet. Also, the number of tournaments held at the World Series of Poker makes for many long days and a long six weeks. Doyle Brunson has admitted that it is a very tough task on him physically to compete for so long. Brunson and I spoke about this in 2006 when he told me that he has to pick his spots now and plays events he feels he has the best shot of doing well.
One thing that you will notice with all the players on this list is that they play multiple games well. While Hellmuth does have 11 Holdem bracelets, you will notice that he has cashes and deep runs in most poker variants. One thing to remember with any of these pros is that no matter how old they are, they still have the experience that years of play has given them. This type of experience is the type you cannot learn by playing online poker only.
