Don’t Call it a Comeback – Hellmuth’s Been Here for Years
An article on another website stated that Phil Hellmuth was the 2011 WSOP Comeback Player of the Year due to his performance at the 2011 WSOP. Part of the reason was because that Hellmuth had not won anything since 2008. I am not sure where this guy was getting his facts, but the L.L Cool J song of “Mamma Said Knock You Out” comes to mind. “Don’t call it a comeback. Hellmuth’s been here for years.”
Hellmuth's been due for a big year, but every year for him seems solid.
Let’s take a look at Phil Hellmuth since 2008 shall we? In 2009 at the World Series of Poker, Hellmuth had six cashes. None of them were final tables, but he was in the final three tables in both the $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo and the $2,000 Limit Hold’em Event. He then went on to finish in the money at the Main Event.
In 2010, Hellmuth performed well on both the WPT and the WSOP. He first made the final table of the Bay 101 Shooting Stars WPT Event, finishing 6th for 117k. The next month, the finished 7th at the $25,000 WPT Championship, taking home $152,856. He then went on to finish in the money 4 times at the 2010 WSOP, including a final table appearance at the $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Lo Event. He was at the final 3 tables of both the $1,500 NL Hold’em Event and the $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Championship.
I find the two years leading up to this year as a far cry from being someone that was on the “comeback trail.” It seemed to me that Hellmuth’s only award that he should be getting this year is Player of the Year. So far, he had cashed five times. Of course, three of those are runner-up finishes in the $10k Stud 8 or Better Championship, 10k NL 2-7 Lowball Championship, and the $50,000 Poker Player’s Championship. Honestly, he was coolered in two out of three heads-up matches. If not for that, Hellmuth might have 13 bracelets now instead of just 11.
Also, Hellmuth is still alive in the Main Event going into play on Thursday. He is probably right around or maybe a bit below average, but he is still alive. Should he find a double-up or two, he will probably both cash and setup himself for yet another deep run.
Comeback? What comeback? Sounds like MVP to me.
