| 15 Outs ... One Time! |
| It's Shronk Daddy. It's 15 questions. It's all the poker knowledge you can handle |
| Featuring : Phil Hellmuth |
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Phil Hellmuth is one of the biggest names in the game, the biggest personality in the game, and is never at a loss for words. If Phil has an opinion, chances are you've already heard it, because he has no qualms about telling you. In this edition of 15 Outs, we get him to open up and give us his opinions on some of the biggest stories in poker.
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Justin Shronk: Let's start off with the new WSOP schedule. Just overall, how do you feel about the elimination of the rebuy events and some of the other changes?
Phil Hellmuth: I am going to miss the rebuy tournaments, even though I didn’t rebuy very often. I liked the vibe and they were a good way to start a tournament with lots of chips, because everyone played so loosely. |
JS: Were there any other changes you would have liked to see the committee make that they didn’t?
PH: No.
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JS: You always have a ton of side projects going – what's the latest thing you're working on?
PH: We have a bunch of new clothing and hats at PokerBrat.com, and I love the new stuff!
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JS: A lot of players have said that your style of play is good for exploiting weak opponents, but that against more sophisticated players you struggle. In fact, talking about the new $40k NLHE tournament at the WSOP on pokerlistings.com, Daniel Negreanu had this to say:
"The ratio of pros to amateurs or good players to bad will probably be about 7-1 or 6-2, so there's no way a player like Phil Hellmuth will win. It requires a completely different skill set than Hellmuth has.”
"He is extremely good at taking advantage of bad players in huge fields and the mistakes they make, but playing against great players and all these great young players, his old-school thinking when it comes to winning tournaments just won't cut it. I think Phil will be outclassed."
Do you have any response to Daniel's assessment of your style of play?
PH: I saw that taped interview and Negreanu seemed to be joking as he said what he said. In the written interview, that doesn’t come across though. In any case, I will say that I won my first eight bracelets against the great players and I have kicked the great players butts in Poker After Dark tournaments!!
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JS: We're coming up on the LAPC, where you made one of your most impressive WPT runs – are you going in at "full power" or have you been focusing on some of your other interests?
PH: I never know when I’m at “full power.” I believe that part of it is physical “swings” that we humans take. Like why does a baseball player hit the cover off of the ball one month and then slump another month? I know that when I start kicking ass in poker, it seems like I make three or four final tables in short order. I believe that if I played in all of the WPT tournaments, instead of less than 40% of them, that I would have a few titles by now.
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JS: In the same interview, Daniel also mentioned that he plans to skip a lot of the "$1,500 Shovefests" and instead play in the deeper-stacked $10k Championship events. What does your WSOP schedule figure to look like this year?
PH: Daniel and I disagree about how much skill is involved in a three or four day long WSOP NLH tournament. I think that they are tough to win, and filled with skill, period. The 10k events are easier to win because of the numbers of players and limit poker has a lot more luck than no-limit does. Having said that, I do not have a pre-determined schedule for the WSOP. But I may have to relax and take a few tournaments off this year. |
JS: I'm assuming you did something extravagant for the Super Bowl –what was your Super Bowl night like? Did you have any big bets?
PH: Actually, I was pretty mellow that day and I watched it at home with only a few thousands bet on Arizona (they covered and we won). I have been to a few SB’s, a few National Championships in college football and college b-ball, World Series games and a lot more, but sometimes being at home works better for me.
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JS: Ok, what about WSOP predictions – are you coming away with number twelve this year?
PH: I hope!!! In fact, I would like to win three WSOP bracelets this year and shock the world!!!
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JS: Have you started planning your grand WSOP entrance this year? If so, can you give us an idea of what you and UB have in store?
PH: I will NOT be Uncle Sam this year. I know who I will be but I am keeping that info to myself.
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JS: What goals do you have left in poker? A certain number of bracelets? Any specific tournaments you'd like to take down?
PH: Twenty-four WSOP bracelets. One or two more WSOP main events. The WPT $25K event. And at least six WPT titles. |
JS: Ok, lightening round - who is the best NLHE tournament player in the world right now?
PH: Me, but there are some great players out there, both young and a bit older. |
JS: Which opponent do you hate playing against?
PH: I used to hate playing against “Drunk Layne,” but I don’t really mind playing against anyone right now. |
JS: Who is the most overrated player in the world?
PH: No comment… |
JS: Who is the most underrated player in the world?
PH: David Oppenheim, he is a great side game player and he plays all of the games well.
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JS: Where is Phil Hellmuth in 10 years?
PH: Living at least 50% in Las Vegas, and I will:
a.) Be sitting on 16-20 WSOP bracelets, including another main event title
b.) Have a major motion picture out about me by then called, Poker Brat
c.) Have written two more New York Times best selling books
d.) Have at least four WPT titles
e.) Be worth at least $200 million
f.) Have a “Poker Brat” lottery in twenty different countries |
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