Phill Hellmuth, the popular yet often polarizing current record holder for most World Series of Poker bracelets at eleven, may very well be on the verge of winning a twelfth, having successfully made it to Day 3 of Event #8 of the 2010 WSOP- a $1,500 buy-in No-Limit Hold ‘em tournament.

Hellmuth, currently fifth in chips, has already outlasted over 2,300 players to reach this point in the tournament and now has just 24 to go in order to win not only that elusive 12th bracelet, but also the biggest chunk of a $3,160,350 total prize pool, a share amounting to nearly $570,000 USD. 

With the completion of last night’s play, the 24 surviving players battling along side Phil are each guaranteed at least $16,275 for their efforts thus far, though clearly each one of them would prefer to go just a little farther, and personally deny Phil of that which he so dearly seeks.

Some of the other well known players to already cash in Event #8 of the WSOP include Victor Ramdin (151st), Pat Pezzin (112th), Jean-Robert Bellande (97th), Cliff “JohnnyBax” Josephy (85th), Steve Sung (54th) and Ray Foley (26th).

For more information on Event #8 of the 2010 WSOP, or to read highlights powered by PokerNews when Phil and the others return today to resume play at 2:30 p.m., visit www.wsop.com.