01-21-07, LearnTexasHoldem:
1989 WSOP
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H.O.R.S.E.: The Player's Championship
Hellmuth vs. Chan
Although Phil Hellmuth Jr. was only twenty-four years old, and would be the youngest champion in WSOP history if he won the 1989 event, he was supremely confident. He had already established in his mind that he was the best player in Wisconsin, and had just won the Legends of Poker at the Bicycle Casino, what is now a World Poker Tour event, although the WPT was years away from being conceived. Hellmuth was probably the player best suited to face Chan, too young and brash to be intimidated by Chan's record. Hellmuth built up a modest chip lead, 1.1 million to Chan's 600,000. Although earlier in the tournament this would be a big gap, in heads up play, it was simply a matter of one double up to turn the tables in Chan's favor.
Youngest WSOP Champion Ever
With blinds at 5,000 and 10,000, Hellmuth found himself staring at two black nines. He bet, and Chan surprised him by making a substantial raise. Hellmuth knew this would be a make or break hand and moved all-in. To his delight, Chan had only A7 suited. No ace would come to save Johnny Chan, and he would have to settle for runner up, as Phil Hellmuth Jr. became the youngest WSOP champion ever by winning the 1989 World Series of Poker main event.
Race for Bracelets
It was appropriate that Phil Hellmuth Jr. should be the one to end Chan's brilliant run. The two have been racing each other for World Series of Poker glory ever since. Not long after Johnny Chan secured his record tenth World Series of Poker bracelet, Hellmuth got his tenth. In 2007, Hellmuth won his eleventh bracelet, and now tops the standings ahead of Chan and Doyle Brunson.
Phil Hellmuth Jr. is now widely thought of as the best no limit hold'em tournament poker player in the world, his biggest fan being himself. He has become famous for his tirades after taking a bad beat from someone he judges to be an inferior player, and has earned the title "poker brat." He has also established himself as one of the most important figures in the modern poker era, sponsoring a poker website, doing commentary on poker events, and appearing in all the biggest televised competitions. Although some love Hellmuth and others cringe at his poor table behavior, no one can dispute that he is fully deserving of the title of World Series of Poker champion.
1989 WSOP Tournaments and Winners
| Event | Winner | Prize | Entrants |
| $,10,000 Championship Event | Phil Hellmuth | $755,000 | 178 |
| $2,000 Limit Hold'em | Thomas Chung | $212,000 | 265 |
| $2,000 No-Limit Hold'em | Norman Keyser | $244,000 | 305 |
| $2,500 Pot-Limit Omaha | Frank Henderson | $184,000 | 99 |
| $1,500 Limit Omaha | Lyle Berman | $108,600 | 181 |
| $5,000 Seven-Card Stud | Don Holt | $154,000 | 77 |
| $5,000 2-7 Draw | Bob Stupak | $139,500 | 34 |
| $1,500 Seven-Card Stud | Mel Judah | $130,800 | 218 |
| $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha | Blacky Blackburn | $108,000 | 180 |
| $1,500 A-5 Draw | Harry Madoff | $119,400 | 199 |
| $500 Women's 7-Card Stud | Alma McClelland | $18,600 | 93 |
| $1,500 Seven-Card Stud Split | Mike Sexton | $104,400 | 174 |
| $1,500 Razz | John Laudon | $95,400 | 159 |
| $1,000 Limit Hold'em | George Allen Shaw | $179,600 | 449 |
WSOP Year By Year
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