Wednesday, July 11, 2018 11:00 PM Local Time
Phil Hellmuth Wins 15th Career Bracelet in $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em! ($485,082)
"Honey, am I dreaming?"
Phil Hellmuth asked his wife, holding the coveted prize in his hand. But it was real, and a jam-packed crowd in the Brasilia Room witnessed the Poker Brat winning his fifteenth career bracelet in Event #71: $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em (30-minute levels) for $485,082. Hellmuth defeated Steven Wolansky heads-up after holding the short stack for the vast majority of their battle. It's Hellmuth's first bracelet since winning the $1,500 Razz in 2015 and his ninth bracelet overall in a No-Limit Hold'em event.
"I'm humbled. It's humbling," was the first thing Hellmuth said after being asked what the record fifteenth bracelet meant to him. "Thirteen in Europe was really humbling for me. And so is fourteen, and so is fifteen."
Official Final Table Results
Position | Play | Country | Payout (USD) |
1 | Phil Hellmuth | United States | $485,082 |
2 | Steven Wolansky | United States | $299,807 |
3 | Alan Sternberg | United States | $204,789 |
4 | Aliaksei Boika | Belarus | $142,458 |
5 | Ken Fishman | United States | $100,956 |
6 | Matt Glantz | United States | $72,911 |
7 | Paul Hoefer | Germany | $53,682 |
8 | Ralph Wong | United States | $40,309 |
9 | Eric Hicks | United States | $30,881 |
To say it hasn't been the best of summers for the record bracelet holder would be quite the understatement. While Hellmuth was taking more time off due to atrial fibrillation, he's has made just five minor cashes since the start of the WSOP, with his best result advancing one round in the $3,000 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout for a mincash of a little over 6K. On top of that, the Poker Brat drew the wrath of the poker community after swearing and speaking out of turn during the Main Event.
"Listen, I was completely out of line." Hellmuth said apologetically. "James Campbell, he and I have been texting back and forth. We go along great. I bought him into the Main Event."
"When I went to bed that night, I looked at social media and realized I may have affected his tournament. I was going to bed but instead, I went to the couch and spend two hours on social media. I couldn't sleep, I felt so bad. I didn't know how to handle it. The fact is: when I busted out from the Main Event and the poker room was cheering, I was crushed. I was like 'oh my god, what did I do? Everyone is against me. It felt like such a low point for me in my career."
"Then I said: the only thing I can do is buy him into the Main Event and that's gonna make me feel better. So I bought him in and I went from 400 negative tweets to 600 positive tweets in one day. It's the swingiest week in my life; from people cheering because I busted to — I think — a lot of people cheering that I won."
Final Day Action
Hellmuth returned along with another 38 players out of 452 for the second day of this event, and with 30-minute levels chips were flying everywhere right from the start. The likes of Anthony Zinno (37th - $9,747), Davidi Kitai ($11,176), Liv Boeree (31st - $11,176) and Antoine Saout (30st - $11,176) all falling in the early stages.
Boeree's bustout was especially brutal: after flopping a set of fours, she check-raised a bet from Hellmuth and received a call. On an eight turn, Boeree check-called all in and was aghast when Hellmuth tabled pocket eights for a higher set. It proved to be a pivotal pot for Hellmuth on his way to number 15.
Start of the day chipleader Jonathan Abdellatif finished in 20th place after losing two big all-ins in a row. He wasn't the only notable that fell short of the final table, as Chance Kornuth (18th - $15,726), Grayson Ramage (17th - $15,726), Griffin Benger (15th - $19,280) and Jeremy Ausmus (12th - $24,147) all bowed out shortly before the big prizes were being awarded.
The unofficial final table with ten players dropped to eight in a single hand as Aliaksei Boika eliminated both Paul Fontan and Eric Hicks in one hand. The lively Hicks, a standout with his jovial antics among the more serious opposition, ran his queens into the kings of Boika and saw his WSOP dream come to a screeching halt. "All this way just for that," Hicks moped as he went off to collect his 9th place reward ($30,881).
Despite the turbo nature of the structure, the eight players played 25 hands together before Ralph Wong (8th - $40,309) became the first casualty. Wong was shortly followed by Paul Hoefer (7th - $53,682), who lost a big coinflip against Matt Glantz shortly before losing his final chips to Alan Sternberg.
Although he doubled through Hoefer, Glantz (6th - $72,911) would be next to go when his flush draw didn't come in against Boika. Ken Fishman lost a crucial all in with ace-ten against the ace-eight of Wolansky when the latter spiked an eight to leave Fishman short. He shortly busted after in 5th place for $100,956.
Boika, who held the chip lead through the vast majority of the final table, suddenly found himself on the rail after losing two big all-ins. With ace-king, Boika didn't get there against Wolansky's kings to finish in 4th ($142,458). Sternberg, one of the highlights of the final table, finished in third place. Hellmuth found the ace he needed with ace-five against Sternberg's pocket kings, and the American went to the rail 16 hands after when he ran his jack-nine suited into Wolansky's ace-queen.
Wolansky would start the heads-up with a 3:1 chip lead against Hellmuth, but the Poker Brat quickly got the stacks back to even. However, it would be short-lived as Wolansky started chipping up with mostly smaller-sized pots. Hellmuth had the following to say about their heads-up battle.
"He wouldn't give an inch, I know he wouldn't give an inch. I had to start thinking about how I wanted to handle this. I thought, I have to try and steal more pots against him to give myself a chance because he's just not giving a chip away. He's making it really tough. and I have to just keep playing my best poker until the end and maybe something great will happen."
"I was down after I made a call, where I felt a little bit silly afterwards. I said let's not give up; these things can turn. When is the next time you're going to have an opportunity where you're heads-up for a bracelet? You just need to hang in there and stay strong and I stayed strong. And then, luckily, I hit some cards."
Crucial for Hellmuth was an all-in situation with king-ten of diamonds against Wolansky's king-jack of hearts. Hellmuth flopped a flush draw, but it would be the tenball on the river that kept his bracelet dreams alive. Holding the chip lead for the first time in their heads-up battle afterwards, Hellmuth found himself all in with pocket threes against Wolansky's ace-nine. A trey on the flop all but sealed it and by the turn, the room erupted as the world is now a 15-time WSOP bracelet winner richer.
Hellmuth dedicated his fifteenth bracelet to Bill Lee, angel investor, Elon Musk's best friend and one of his own good friends. "I promised him I would win him a bracelet. But I promised it a long time ago. I told him he has to fly here to collect the thing! I said, "Bill is an amazing guy and I promised him I'd win him a bracelet, but I promised it a long time ago. I want you to be here when I win it! He's not here," he chuckled. However, when asked about what his bracelet meant from a legacy perspective, Hellmuth took on a more serious tone.
"It means everything to me, because my life is poker, number one. Number two, I'm trying to spread positivity to the world. I want to be remembered in two ways: one, having 24 bracelets and number two, starting the positivity movement and having a lot of influence on people lives. Every day, people tweet I read your book, it changed my life. That's what I want the spotlight that I have becomes a responsibility. Once I realized I could inspire people — yes, I'm still the poker brat — I took that seriously."
Wednesday, July 11, 2018 10:11 PM Local Time
Steven Wolansky Eliminated in 2nd Place ($299,807); Phil Hellmuth Wins 15th Bracelet!
Hand #133: Steven Wolansky shoved for 3,650,000 from the button and Phil Hellmuth snap-called.
Steven Wolansky:
Phil Hellmuth:
Wolansky got up to stand with his rail. "Sitting down didn't work so I'll stand with my rail, maybe that's better." Wolansky commented.
The flop came with the in the window but was filled with the too. Wolansky hit a pair of nines but Hellmuth hit a set of treys.
Hellmuth's rail cheered loudly. Wolansky was asking for a four to keep a straight draw alive.
The turn brought them the , which meant that Wolansky was drawing dead.
The on the river was just a formality as Hellmuth won his 15th WSOP bracelet and Wolansky was eliminated as the runner-up.
A full recap of today's action is to follow.
Phil Hellmuth | 11,300,000 | 3,700,000 |
Steven Wolansky | 0 | -3,700,000 |
Wednesday, July 11, 2018 10:04 PM Local Time
Hand #127-132: Wolansky Shoves Several Times
Hand #127: Phil Hellmuth got a walk.
Hand #128: Hellmuth shoved and Steven Wolansky folded.
Hand #129: Wolansky went all in for 2,950,000 and Hellmuth folded.
Hand #130: Hellmuth completed, Wolansky shoved all in for 3,300,000, and Hellmuth folded.
Hand #131: Wolansky went all in for 3,650,000 and Hellmuth folded.
Hand #132: Hellmuth completed and Wolansky checked. The flop was and Wolansky check-folded to a 400,000 bet from Hellmuth.
Phil Hellmuth | 7,600,000 | -700,000 |
Steven Wolansky | 3,700,000 | 700,000 |
Wednesday, July 11, 2018 10:01 PM Local Time
Hands #124-126: Hellmuth Doubles Up
Hand #124: Phil Hellmuth folded his button.
Hand #125: Steven Wolansky folded too on the button.
Hand #126: Hellmuth shoved on the button for 3,710,000 and was called by Wolansky.
Phil Hellmuth:
Steven Wolansky:
Hellmuth got up from the table to look at the TV screens again with his rail.
The flop came to give Hellmuth a flush draw.
The turn brought them the , only another diamond or a ten could ensure Hellmuth's double-up.
The river came with the and Hellmuth cheered and quickly walked back to the table.
Phil Hellmuth | 8,300,000 | 4,500,000 |
Steven Wolansky | 3,000,000 | -4,500,000 |
Wednesday, July 11, 2018 9:55 PM Local Time
Level 35 started
Level: 35
Blinds: 150000/300000
Ante: 50000
Wednesday, July 11, 2018 9:55 PM Local Time
Hands #116-123: Hellmuth Wins Some Back
Hand #116: "Phil Fif-teen Phil Fif-teen!" chants sounded from the rail as Phil Hellmuth shoved 2,580,000 and Steven Wolansky folded.
Hand #117: Wolansky shoved and Hellmuth folded.
Hand #118: Hellmuth completed and Wolansky checked. The flop went check-check. Wolansky checked the turn, Hellmuth bet 250,000, and Wolansky called.
On the river, Wolansky checked, Hellmuth bet 325,000, and Wolansky called. Hellmuth showed for a pair of sevens and the winner as Wolansky mucked.
Hand #119: Wolansky shoved and Hellmuth folded.
Hand #120: Hellmuth completed, Wolansky shoved, and Hellmuth folded.
Hand #121: Wolansky completed and Hellmuth checked. The flop got checked and Hellmuth picked it up with a 275,000 bet on the turn.
Hand #122: Hellmuth completed and Wolansky checked. Wolansky check-folded the flop to a 275,000 bet.
Hand #123: Wolansky completed and Hellmuth checked. The flop got checked. Hellmuth bet 275,000 on the turn and Wolansky folded.
Steven Wolansky | 7,500,000 | -1,200,000 |
Phil Hellmuth | 3,800,000 | 1,200,000 |
Wednesday, July 11, 2018 9:45 PM Local Time
Hands #111-115: Wolansky Takes Chunk From Hellmuth
Hand #111: Steven Wolansky raised to 650,000 and Phil Hellmuth folded.
Hand #112: Hellmuth called on the button and Wolansky opted to check. The flop came . Wolansky check-folded to the 2,000,000 bet of Hellmuth.
Hand #113: Wolansky called the button and Hellmuth checked. The flop came , Hellmuth bet 300,000, and Wolansky called. The turn brought them the , Hellmuth bet 500,000 without hesitating, and Wolansky looked at Hellmuth's stack and called. The river completed the board with the . Hellmuth checked. Wolansky looked over to Hellmuth again and bet 1,100,000. Hellmuth glanced at his cards again and set apart calling chips. Hellmuth looked at the rest of his own stack and the board. Hellmuth called. Wolansky flipped over for two pair on the flop, aces and deuces, to win the pot.
Hand #114: Hellmuth called and Wolansky opted to shove to put Hellmuth all in. Hellmuth snap-folded.
Hand #115: Wolansky folded his button.
Steven Wolansky | 8,700,000 | 2,300,000 |
Phil Hellmuth | 2,600,000 | -2,300,000 |
Wednesday, July 11, 2018 9:36 PM Local Time
Hands #106-110: Hellmuth Inching Closer
Hand #106: Phil Hellmuth completed and Steven Wolansky checked. The flop got checked by both. Hellmuth bet 300,000 on the turn and Wolansky folded.
Hand #107: Wolansky shoved and Hellmuth folded.
Hand #108: Hellmuth completed and Wolansky checked. Wolansky checked the flop, Hellmuth bet 400,000, and Wolansky gave it up.
Hand #109: Wolansky completed and Hellmuth checked. The flop was and Hellmuth bet out 300,000. Wolansky rapidly folded.
Hand #110: Hellmuth completed and Wolansky checked. The board got checked down and Hellmuth snagged it with .
Steven Wolansky | 6,400,000 | -800,000 |
Phil Hellmuth | 4,900,000 | 800,000 |
Wednesday, July 11, 2018 9:30 PM Local Time
Hands #101-105: Hellmuth Creeping Up
Hand #101: Steven Wolansky called on the button and Phil Hellmuth raised to 700,000. Wolansky folded.
Hand #102: Hellmuth gave up on the button.
Hand #103: Wolansky called on the button and Hellmuth opted to raise to 650,000. Wolansky folded.
Hand #104: Hellmuth called and Wolansky opted to check. The flop came and they both checked. The turn was the and Wolansky check-folded to the 240,000 bet of Hellmuth.
Hand #105: Wolansky folded his button.
Steven Wolansky | 7,200,000 | -700,000 |
Phil Hellmuth | 4,100,000 | 700,000 |
Wednesday, July 11, 2018 9:24 PM Local Time
Level 34 started
Level: 34
Blinds: 120000/240000
Ante: 40000
Wednesday, July 11, 2018 9:24 PM Local Time
Hand #98-100: Three for Wolansky
Hand #98: Phil Hellmuth completed and Steven Wolansky checked. Both players checked the flop. Wolansky bet 250,000 on the turn and Hellmuth folded.
Hand #99: Wolansky completed and Hellmuth checked. Both and went check-check. On the river, Hellmuth bet 300,000, Wolansky called with and won the hand.
Hand #100: Hellmuth limped, Wolansky shoved, and Hellmuth folded.
Steven Wolansky | 7,900,000 | 900,000 |
Phil Hellmuth | 3,400,000 | -1,000,000 |
Wednesday, July 11, 2018 9:20 PM Local Time
Hands #93-97: More For Hellmuth
Hand #93: Steven Wolansky raised to 600,000 from the button and Phil Hellmuth folded immediately.
Hand #94: Hellmuth called on the button and Wolansky opted to check. The flop came and Wolansky check-called the 200,000 bet of Hellmuth. The turn was the . Wolansky checked again. Hellmuth bet 400,000 and Wolansky called. The river completed the board with the . Wolansky checked for the last time. Hellmuth continued with a bet of 500,000. Wolansky considered his options and decided to fold.
Hand #95: Wolansky called on the button and Hellmuth checked. The flop came , and Hellmuth check-folded to the 300,000 bet of Wolansky.
Hand #96: Hellmuth called the button and Wolansky opted to check. The flop came . Wolansky check-folded to the 200,000 bet of Hellmuth.
Hand #97: Wolansky raised to 600,000 from the button and Hellmuth folded.
Steven Wolansky | 7,000,000 | -300,000 |
Phil Hellmuth | 4,400,000 | 400,000 |
Wednesday, July 11, 2018 9:13 PM Local Time
Hands #88-92: Small Ball
Hand #88: Phil Hellmuth completed and Steven Wolansky checked. The board got checked down. Wolansky showed , Hellmuth showed , and Wolansky won it with a pair of tens.
Hand #89: Wolansky completed, Hellmuth raised to 400,000, and Wolansky folded.
Hand #90: A walk for Wolansky who showed .
Hand #91: A walk for Hellmuth.
Hand #92: Hellmuth limped and Wolansky checked. They checked down. Wolansky showed and won against Hellmuth's .
Steven Wolansky | 7,300,000 | 0 |
Phil Hellmuth | 4,000,000 | 0 |
Wednesday, July 11, 2018 9:09 PM Local Time
Hands #83-87: Hellmuth Wins a Bit
Hand #83: Steven Wolansky limped in on the button and Phil Hellmuth opted to check. The flop came on which they both checked through to the on the turn and the on the river. Wolansky took the pot with .
Hand #84: Hellmuth called on the button and Wolansky opted to check his big blind. The flop came , Hellmuth bet 200,000, and Wolansky folded.
Hand #85: Wolansky folded his button.
Hand #86: Hellmuth called the button and Wolansky checked. They both checked through the flop and the on the turn. The river completed the board with the . Hellmuth check-called the 200,000 bet of Wolansky. Hellmuth won the hand with .
Hand #87: Wolansky called on the button and Hellmuth opted to check. They both checked through the whole board. Wolansky took the pot with .
Steven Wolansky | 7,300,000 | -100,000 |
Phil Hellmuth | 4,000,000 | 100,000 |
Wednesday, July 11, 2018 9:02 PM Local Time
Hands #78-82: Wolansky Extends Again
Hand #78: Phil Hellmuth limped in and Steven Wolansky checked. The flop was and Wolansky check-called 200,000. The turn brought the and both players checked.
The river went check-check. Wolansky showed and won the hand with a pair of queens.
Hand #79: Steven Wolansky open-shoved all in for effectively 4,860,000 and Hellmuth went in the tank. He open-folded after some thought.
Hand #80: Hellmuth completed and Wolansky checked. The brought a 200,000 bet from Hellmuth and Wolansky called. The turn got checked by both players.
Wolansky checked the on the river and called off 350,000 from Hellmuth. Hellmuth verbally announced an unknown holding, and Wolansky showed and won the hand.
Hand #81: Wolansky completed and Hellmuth checked. The flop was and got checked around. Hellmuth quickly bet 300,000 on the turn and Wolansky folded.
Hand #82: Hellmuth completed, Wolansky shoved, and Hellmuth folded.
Steven Wolansky | 7,400,000 | 1,100,000 |
Phil Hellmuth | 3,900,000 | -1,100,000 |
Wednesday, July 11, 2018 8:59 PM Local Time
Level 33 started
Level: 33
Blinds: 100000/200000
Ante: 30000
Wednesday, July 11, 2018 8:57 PM Local Time
Hands #77: Hellmuth Doubles Up
Hand #77: Steven Wolansky put Phil Hellmuth all in from the button.
'"I've only seen an ace, I call..." Hellmuth replied for the 2,480,000 he had in front of him.
Phil Hellmuth:
Steven Wolansky:
Hellmuth got up from his chair to walk to his rail and watch the board run out on one of the TV screens.
The flop came and Hellmuth was still ahead.
The turn brought them the which still kept Hellmuth ahead.
The on the river completed the board and Hellmuth doubled up.
Steven Wolansky | 6,300,000 | -2,300,000 |
Phil Hellmuth | 5,000,000 | 2,300,000 |
Wednesday, July 11, 2018 8:50 PM Local Time
Alan Sternberg Eliminated in 3rd Place ($204,789)
Hand #76: Phil Hellmuth raised to 320,000 on the button, Sternberg three-bet shoved 3,300,000 from the small blind, Wolansky reshoved, and Hellmuth folded.
Alan Sternberg:
Steven Wolansky:
The flop was and Sternberg took the lead with a pair of jacks. The on the turn swung the lead back to Wolansky and left Sternberg drawing to five outs.
"Nineball!" Sternberg's frantic supporters shouted.
Unfortunately for Sternberg and his rail, the river was the and Sternberg was eliminated. Phil Hellmuth walked over and shook his hand.
"You ran me over," Hellmuth complimented. Sternberg bowed out in third place and received $204,789.
Steven Wolansky | 8,600,000 | 3,900,000 |
Phil Hellmuth | 2,700,000 | -600,000 |
Alan Sternberg | 0 | -3,300,000 |
Wednesday, July 11, 2018 8:44 PM Local Time
Hands #73-75: Second Barrels do the Trick
Hand #73: Alan Sternberg limped in from the small blind and Steven Wolansky checked his option. Sternberg bet 175,000 on the flop and Wolansky called.
On the turn, Sternberg fired a second barrel worth 400,000 and Wolansky released.
Hand #74: Sternberg raised to 350,000 on the button and won the hand.
Hand #75: Wolansky raised to 340,00 on the button and Sternberg defended. Sternberg check-called 260,000 from Wolansky on the flop.
The turn was the and Wolansky fired a second barrel worth 700,000. Sternberg instantly mucked his hand.
Wednesday, July 11, 2018 8:36 PM Local Time
Hands #68-72: Hellmuth and Sternberg are Even
Hand #68: Alan Sternberg raised to 350,000 from the button and Phil Hellmuth shoved in the big blind. Sternberg folded immediately.
Hand #69: A walk for Sternberg.
Hand #70: Hellmuth raised to 400,000 from the button and Steven Wolansky considered his options from the big blind. Wolansky called. The flop came on which they both checked to the on the turn. Wolansky bet 300,000 and Hellmuth looked at his cards again. Hellmuth flicked his cards into the muck.
Hand #71: Sternberg raised to 250,000 from the button and both Wolansky and Hellmuth folded.
Hand #72: Hellmuth completed his small blind and Sternberg opted to shove in the big blind. Hellmuth sat back and looked at Sternberg's stack. Hellmuth folded.
Steven Wolansky | 4,700,000 | 300,000 |
Phil Hellmuth | 3,300,000 | -400,000 |
Alan Sternberg | 3,300,000 | 100,000 |