Phil Hellmuth; Professional Poker Player, Windbag, and now Coach!

Say what you want about Phil Hellmuth, the fact of the matter is he’s one of the very best in the world when it comes to tournament poker.  Even if you don’t think so, well HE certainly thinks that way.

Phil at 2009 WSOP Main Event

Amongst his accomplishments to date include no less than a record setting 11 WSOP Bracelets, a feat he conquered two years ago by winning two bracelets that pushed his total past those of Johnny Chan and Doyle Brunson, (both sitting with 10 bracelets each) as well as being the 1989 Wold Champion .  Even though Phil didn’t add to his collection this past WSOP, he is certainly involved in the race for the biggest prize in the poker world,  the Main Event Bracelet!  But this time, he’s coaching none other than Jeff Shulman, president of Card Player Media, who is one of the November Nine going after the elusive wrist  jewelery this coming November.

“The simpliest reason why I”m doing this”, Shulman stated, “I want to win, and I think it (having Hellmuth as coach) will help”.

The two have had a friendly relationship for a long time while maintianing  a successful business relationship.  When asked what he thought of the arrangement, Hellmuth remarked “I have always liked and respected  Jeff, and that’s why I am coaching him for the November Nine, where he is the favourite to become the 2009 World Champion of Poker.”

“Jeff is a first rate businessman who runs the industry’s leading publication.  He loves the game of poker and he comes out only for the biggest and most prestigious poker tournaments in the world, where he has a terrific track record.”

Jeff Shulman

That’s true.  This year’s Main Event Final Table will be Shulman’s second time, the first coming several years ago and on which he made some bad judgement calls and ending up losing the chip lead.  Could the coaching by the self proclaimed Poker Master himself be the one thing Jeff needs to finally get the victory he’s been pining for all this time?  Shulman admits he had flaws in his game during the main event.  “I’m not playing my A game.” he stated earlier, “probably like a solid B.  I made a couple of calls in the tournament that I wasn’t pleased with, and I just know I’m not the best poker player out there.”  I guess it makes sense then that he chose the one person who believes he IS the best in the world to coach him then.

Hellmuth is known of his theatrics and trash talk.  This year, he arrived at the Main Event dressed as Emperor Caesar, complete with a gaggle of slave girls hanging on to his every word.  His temperament sometimes gets the better of him, especially after losing a hand or two, and he is never restrained in stating his opinions to any one within ear shot of his rantings.  But the fact is, he has the most impressive record to date, and if anyone can coach anyone, its Hellmuth.  Lets just hope its not the dramatic lessons that only take hold though.

Jeff Shulman is not without scandal this year though.  During the race to the final table last July, he was asked what he would do with the bracelet if he actually won it.  He responded by saying he would “throw it in the garbage”.  A more complete article can be found here

http://www.fuzionpoker.com/poker/trashing-the-wsop-main-event-bracelet/

The details of the coaching arrangement have not been made public at this time, but perhaps Jeff has offered the bracelet to Phil to make it an even dozen??

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