Phil Hellmuth threw down the gauntlet on his critics on Saturday, challenging anyone to "put their money where their mouth is" in a $1 million crossbook challenge.
"If someone actually believes that I am a losing player in cash games (I have won over $3M since 2014 in cash games and have tax records to prove it), then will they put their money where their mouth is?" Hellmuth said on X.
Multiple challengers step up
The proposed challenge would have the 17-time WSOP champ and his challenger put up $500K each. "That critic can book me—dollar for dollar—in the games you say I lose money in, televised cash games (where I won 23-out-of-24 sessions from 2013-2019)."
Hellmuth went on to explain that he's "winning $110,000 in 6 sessions of $25-$50 Hellmuth’s Home Game," a new show that appears on YouTube and CBS Sports Network.
The comments follow recent criticism from Hungry Horse Poker founder Marc Goone, who laid out a video on what he thinks are Hellmuth's cash game leaks.
"Over $30M in tournament earnings and the same giant leak as the biggest fish at your local $2/$5 game," Goone claimed. "So, what is the leak? Fear."
Other players threw their hat in the ring, starting with Brian Okin, who extended an invite to Hellmuth to play in Okin's Game. Okin doesn't normally allow pros in the livestreamed Venetian Poker game, but he offered to make an exception for Hellmuth.
Sean Perry also responded, offering a heads-up match for $500K. "been trying to play you for years but yet you keep fading me," Perry said on X. "And if you want even more action I’ll play for any amount up to $5 million."
No response yet from Phil to any of his suitors, but we'll be right there when (if) it happens.
