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Johnny Chan is one of the most successful World Series of Poker participants of all time. He won the championship in 1987 and 1988, and incredibly, in 1989 looked poised to take the WSOP title for a third consecutive year, a feat no one else had achieved and one which would certainly be considered the most impressive feat in World Series history. All that stood between Johnny Chan and an unrivaled level of poker immortality was a tall skinny kid from Madison, Wisconsin by the name of Phil Hellmuth Jr.

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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

2000's	1990's	1980's	1970's
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2006 WSOP	1998 WSOP	1988 WSOP	1978 WSOP
2005 WSOP	1997 WSOP	1987 WSOP	1977 WSOP
2004 WSOP	1996 WSOP	1986 WSOP	1976 WSOP
2003 WSOP	1995 WSOP	1985 WSOP	1975 WSOP
2002 WSOP	1994 WSOP	1984 WSOP	1974 WSOP
2001 WSOP	1993 WSOP	1983 WSOP	1973 WSOP
2000 WSOP	1992 WSOP	1982 WSOP	1972 WSOP
	1991 WSOP	1981 WSOP	1971 WSOP
	1990 WSOP	1980 WSOP	1970 WSOP