The Poker Brat falls short of the bubble in his latest live poker tournament
Seventeen-time WSOP bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth debuted at the 2023 PokerStars North American Poker Tour (NAPT) on Tuesday night after registering late on Day 1c of the $1,650 buy-in Main Event.
“Haven’t played a tourney in months (maybe first tourney since WSOP!!?),” Hellmuth said on social media. But his first tournament since then was going well as he advanced to Day 2 with 109,000 chips.
Hellmuth was among 252 players breaking from the 1,095-player field to make Day 2 on Thursday, hoping to finish in the top 159 spots to be in the money. However, Hellmuth would fall short by about 12 spots after Liran Betito knocked him out during the day’s second level.
Hellmuth would open to 9,000 chips under the gun in Level 16 and continue for 9,000 after the flop. He then pushed all-in on the river, holding 7-H 6-H against the A-D 6-D of Betito, who had already caught his full house on the turn, ending Hellmuth’s tournament after the cards were flipped.
Hellmuth exited to the rail to meet his sister Anne, a 33-time gold medalist at the Special Olympics, who was in town from Madison, Wisconsin.
“Why does it hurt so much?” asked Hellmuth, thinking about the final hand. “It’s only $1,600, but I think it’s because it was my first tournament since the WSOP, and I was playing so well.” Hellmuth’s NAPT series might not be finished, as he suggested he might enter the $5,300 8-Game event starting on Thursday.
Emma Rodriguez is the Proofreader at the Big Blind, with seven years of experience and five years in online gambling. She plays a crucial role in maintaining content quality by ensuring error-free, reader-friendly information about the gambling industry.
