Poker Pro Phil Hellmuth Wins Record Eleventh WSOP Bracelet

Johnny Chan and Doyle Brunson present Phil Hellmuth with his record-setting eleventh World Series of Poker bracelet. (Bodog Beat Image)

Forget the hour delay, the news was just too big to be contained within the curtains. Phil Hellmuth has become the first poker player in history to capture 11 World Series of Poker bracelets.

The run to the record started in 1989 when then 24-year-old Hellmuth won the $10,000 buy-in WSOP Main Event by defeating two-time defending champ Johnny Chan. As serendipity would have it, Hellmuth and Chan became tied for 10 bracelets (along with Doyle Brunson) at the 2006 World Series of Poker.

All eleven of Hellmuth's bracelets have been won in Hold'em poker events; seven in no limit, three in limit, and one in pot limit. His total WSOP winnings now total $5,548,377 including the $637,254 that he takes home for this win. Along with that sweet, sweet eleventh bracelet and the Corum watch.

Brunson and Chan were on hand at the bracelet ceremony to congratulate Hellmuth on his accomplishment. The two living legends will now be racing to catch up with him. Said Doyle, who is in the $5,000 Limit Hold'em event, "I'm only 28 players away right now."

Stay tuned for more live updates from the 2007 World Series of Poker.