Gang of Phil Hellmuths to invade WSOPE

Gang of Phil Hellmuths to invade WSOPE

By Arthur Crowson

Apparently one Phil Hellmuth is just not enough. UltimateBet has just announced that there will be a "Phil Hellmuth Look-A-Like" contest at the World Series of Poker Europe in London.

Anyone interested in such a title is welcome to enter the contest, which will take place on Sept. 27 in Leicester Square. Phil Hellmuth will hand-pick his twin (woman or man) and have that person accompany him, as well as the requisite entourage of 12 models, into the Empire Casino. The Hellmuth look-alike will also receive £2,000 for their efforts.

Hellmuth will be seeking his record-setting 12th bracelet in the WSOPE Main Event, and has already had a near miss. He finished 12th in the £2,500 H.O.R.S.E. event, just missing out on the final table. It was still a decent result for Hellmuth, who has faltered in mixed games like H.O.R.S.E. in the past.

The ever-humble Hellmuth mentioned he's looking forward to trying for the elusive 12th piece of wrist candy.

"I have a great chance to win my 12th bracelet at the WSOPE and break yet another world record," he said. "I am the best poker player in the world and while I don't have anything to prove to the poker community it will still be the greatest personal accomplishment to be the first to get to 12."

Hellmuth has a penchant for over-the-top entrances to WSOP Main Events. In the past he's come dressed in a race-car driver outfit and a military uniform, and last year in London he arrived aboard a Hellmuth-branded double-decker bus with 12 models decked out, like himself, in police uniforms.

Always controversial, Hellmuth won his first bracelet at the WSOP Main Event in 1989 and has since cashed an incredible 69 times and made 41 final tables.