Phil Hellmuth Wins Another Pot Against Dan Smith

Level 12: 1,500-3,000, 400 ante

With the final board showing A74K8, the big blind checks, Phil Hellmuth bets 24,000 from middle position, and Dan Smith calls from the button. The big blind folds. 

Hellmuth shows A8 for two pair, aces and eights, and Smith mucks his cards and says, "Nice catch. You were crushed." The implication is obviously that Smith had a pair of aces with a higher kicker. But Hellmuth is pleased that he took another pot against his nemesis of the day, Dan Smith.

Phil Hellmuth  -  395,000  (131 bb)
Dan Smith  -  176,000  (58 bb)

Phil Hellmuth Has Been Waiting For This Moment Against Dan Smith

Level 12: 1,500-3,000, 400 ante

Phil Hellmuth raises from middle position to 8,000, Maroun Jazzar calls from middle position, and Dan Smith reraises from the button to 31,000. The blinds fold and the action returns to Hellmuth.

Hellmuth says, "This is kind of what I've been waiting for." He thinks for a bit and asks the dealer, "It's 23 more?" The dealer confirms the amount. Hellmuth studies Smith a bit longer and asks, "You obviously have me covered, right?" Smith glances at his stack and says, "Yeah." Hellmuth started the hand with about 225,000, and Smith started with about 270,000.

Throughout all of this, Hellmuth is completely ignoring Jazzar's presence in the hand, focusing all of his attention on Dan Smith. After about two minutes, Hellmuth calls, and Jazzar quickly folds. 

The flop comes 1072, and it takes about 30 seconds before they each push forward 37,000. Hellmuth literally beat Smith into the pot, but he also said "Call," so it appears that Smith made a verbal bet, but it's unconfirmed. Either way, they each added 37,000 to the pot.

The turn card is the 6, and Hellmuth quickly knocks the table to indicate a check. Smith thinks for about 30 seconds before he lightly taps the table. 

The river card pairs the board with the 2, and Hellmuth quickly knocks the table again. Smith pauses before he checks behind, and Hellmuth proudly says, "Pair of eights." 

Smith says, "You're good," and Hellmuth stands up and flips over 88. Hellmuth loudly says, "Now we're playing some poker!" Soheil Shamseddin, sitting between the two players, loudly tells the room, "Phil is now playing poker on Table 56!"

Hellmuth returns to his seat, seemingly re-energized. Hellmuth tells Smith, "I was hoping you'd move in on the river so I could snap-call you with second pair." 

Phil Hellmuth  -  315,000  (105 bb)
Dan Smith  -  240,000  (80 bb)

Phil Don't Preach?

Level 12: 1,500-3,000, 400 ante

Phil Hellmuth Doubles Through Kathy Liebert with an Ace on the River

Level 10: 1,000-2,000, 300 ante

On a flop of 973 Phil Hellmuth bets out 12,000 and Kathy Liebert raises to 30,000 total.  Phil moves all-in for 89,100 and Liebert quickly calls with 77 for middle set.  Hellmuth has AA and needs help.

The turn brings the 6, leaving Hellmuth with just two outs with one card to come.  The river brings the A to give Hellmuth a set of his own and double up.  Meanwhile, Liebert is left with just 10,000 chips.

Phil Hellmuth - 210,000
Kathy Liebert - 10,000

Josh Arieh Brings Out the Old Hellmuth

Level 8: 600-1,200, 200 ante

With 40,000 already in the pot and the board reading QJ5QA, Josh Arieh bets 25,000 on the river and Hellmuth thinks a while before calling.

Arieh flips up K10 for a Broadway straight, which provokes quite a reaction from Hellmuth.  He proceeds to mutter about how unbelievable the circumstances are, dropping a couple of words not fit for print.

"Hey now," Arieh warns Hellmuth.  "I thought you were done with this," referencing Hellmuth's widely publicized declaration that he was a better-behaved Poker Brat these days.

Hellmuth stands for a minute, holding his hand in front of him, looking longingly at his Q.  Eventually he mucks his other card and heads out to the break admittedly a little tilted.

Josh Arieh - 170,000
Phil Hellmuth - 70,000

More Late Arrivals

Level 7: 500-1,000, 100 ante

We're now up to 187 players as more and more pros keep filing into the Fontana Lounge.  John Hennigan is here, Chris "Jesus" Ferguson is getting situated at his table which already features Eric Baldwin, Dwyte Pilgrim, Justin Bonomo, Tommy Vedes,  and Brian Lemke, and Phil Hellmuth just sat down as well.

While Hellmuth recently announced he will be making his WSOP grand entrance dressed as an MMA fighter, he elected to skip the fighter gear today and is donning his typical costume...er... black jacket instead.