A quote from Daniel Negreanu, a.k.a. “Kid Poker”, was very popular at poker forums in February. It said, “He [Phil Hellmuth] is extremely good at taking advantage of bad players in huge fields and the mistakes they make, but playing against great players and all these great young players, his old-school thinking when it comes to winning tournaments just won’t cut it. I think Phil will be outclassed.” Negreanu was saying that Hellmuth will not be able to win anymore WSOP bracelets.
At PokerListings a die hard Hellmuth fan retorted, “When “Kid Poker” has won as much titles (and money) as Hellmuth, then maybe he can open his big annoying mouth. But until then maybe he should shut it, and let the record book do the talking.” He was obviously referring to Hellmuth’s 11 WSOP bracelets versus Negreanu’s four.
One was wondering when Hellmuth would pick up the gauntlet on his own behalf. Now the “Poker Brat” has given his response in an interview to PokerListings. He begins by saying that criticism fires him up and hence Negreanu has made a mistake by challenging him. Then, like his defendant above, he cites his record. Hellmuth claims that has finished first or second in half his appearances on NBC’s Poker After Dark and that too against the best pros in the business.
Till he lost to Grospellier over the weekend in the NBC National Heads-Up Championship his lifetime record at that event was 9-2. And finally there are his 11 WSOP bracelets. Speaking of his bracelets Hellmuth says, “Everybody knows I won the first nine bracelets against the toughest players in the world. Back then the fields were shorter, but I played against some great players.”
Then Hellmuth comes to his true bragging form. He says that when you are the Number #1, then everybody tries to pull you down. His detractors first said that he is no good at cash games, but he showed them that he was. Now they are saying he is no good at tournaments and again he will show them.
“When you’re the guy on the top of the mountain people are always trying to chop you down and stand on your shoulders. It comes part and parcel with all this and I’m OK with that.” Of Negreanu, Hellmuth said, “Daniel may be one of my biggest critics, but I still love him.”
In a sense the run up to the WSOP is more interesting than the tournament itself. Players take postures and rile each other, which is a lot more fodder for the fans in the forums. And Hellmuth is a pro at providing that as well. As one fan said, “Some people come to see him win, many people come to see him lose but all come to see him.”
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