Few would argue that Phil Hellmuth is the G.O.A.T. of the World Series of Poker (WSOP). However Bryn Kenney would not assume the “Poker Brat” is that nice general as a poker participant.
Kenney, who holds the report for reside event cashes at $67 million, in line with The Hendon Mob, appeared on the Digital Social Hour Podcast with Sean Kelly. The New York poker professional addressed a handful of matters, together with shedding $3.5 million, drama within the poker world, and the Poker Corridor of Fame.
He additionally was requested a query from the host who has over 1 million followers about Hellmuth’s stature inside the poker world. And the reply would set off one in every of poker’s hottest gamers ever.
Kenney Disses Poker Legend
Hellmuth holds the report with 17 WSOP bracelets. Phil Ivey is in a distant second place at 11, whereas Johnny Chan, Erik Seidel, and Doyle Brunson are the one others to succeed in double-digits. However the visitor on the Digital Social Hour Podcast would not seem like all that impressed.
“Lots of people label Hellmuth because the ‘Event G.O.A.T.,” however I would love to listen to your opinion. As a result of he would not actually play within the larger stakes tournaments such as you do,” Kelly mentioned.
Kenney first talked about that Hellmuth is the “greatest profitable WSOP participant,” which is hard to argue provided that Hellmuth holds the report for WSOP bracelets and closing desk appearances by a large margin.
“He has his profession, which is spectacular, too,” Kenney mentioned of Hellmuth’s WSOP efficiency.
However that’s the place the compliments ended. He went on to assault the 1989 world champion’s efficiency on the highest stakes.
“He is performed some excessive rollers and hasn’t actually fared very nicely in them, and , after I take into consideration who’re the most effective gamers in poker, in case you’re not competing on the highest stage, you possibly can’t actually be in competition for it,” Kenney argues.
Kenney then steered Hellmuth may very well be “the pinnacle of some sub-category that exists someplace else,” implying that Hellmuth is solely the most effective World Collection of Poker participant, not an general G.O.A.T. He then knocked Hellmuth’s supposed lack of ability to thrive when competing within the “small fields with the most effective gamers.”
“Should you’re taking part in towards largely beginner gamers on the World Collection, you are nice at beating the beginner gamers. It is like you would be the King of Triple A,” Kenney mentioned.
The very best stage {of professional} baseball on this planet is Main League Baseball (MLB), whereas the extent one notch beneath is AAA Minor League Baseball (MiLB). Kenney is implying that Hellmuth is extra suited to AAA, though the World Collection of Poker is poker’s equal to baseball’s World Collection or the Tremendous Bowl (NFL), not less than by way of status inside the recreation.
Hellmuth Fires Again
Hellmuth did not simply settle for the criticism from Kenney. The “Poker Brat” responded to a video clip from the Digital Social Hour Podcast.
“To me the @WSOP (World Collection of Poker) is the “massive leagues.” All the time has been, at all times shall be. It’s aggravating to me when folks lie about me and my legacy. For the report, I’m profitable over $1.5M in “Excessive Rollers.” (Simple to substantiate this on HendonMob). You mentioned I wouldn’t play you heads up? The place have been you I challenged your complete world to a $1.6M heads up problem on ‘Excessive Stakes Duel?'” Hellmuth tweeted.
Hellmuth dominated High Stakes Duel, a former heads-up poker present on PokerGO, for a pair years. He received his first six matches — three towards Antonio Esfandiari and three towards Daniel Negreanu — for a complete of $700,000 in revenue.
The Poker Corridor of Famer then defeated sports activities discuss character and leisure poker participant Nick Wright within the first spherical of Excessive Stakes Duel III earlier than splitting matches towards Tom Dwan. He then beat Scott Seiver within the $800,000 spherical earlier than falling to Jason Koon for $1.6 million. Hellmuth went 9-2 general on the present, which used a sit-n-go type heads-up no-limit maintain’em format.
Hellmuth additionally received the 64-player NBC Heads-Up Poker Championship in 2005, and completed runner-up to Mike Matusow in 2013, the present’s closing season. The polarizing poker icon has over $30 million in general reside event cashes, not even half of Kenney’s outcomes. However there’s extra to evaluating a poker participant than simply The Hendon Mob cashes.
Phil Hellmuth Beats Scott Seiver for $800k on High Stakes Duel
